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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447035987137 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: VECTOR SECURITY COMPANY <info.vectorseccomp@gmail.com>
Reply-To: vecseccom@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2015 11:09:05 +0200
Subject: YOUR FUND
Attention,
Compliment of the day to you.
We are contacting you in respect to your fund which was kept in our
custody here in the Vector Security Company, it has stayed too long
and we want to confirm if you are still alive and then make the
transfer to you immediately without further delay
Confirm to us immediately if you are still alive and find below my
passport copy for your confirmation as this is a legal and legitimate
transaction
We expect your prompt response.
Truly,
Pearson William
Managing Director
Vector Security Company
4 Gladstone St ,
Nottingham,
NG4 1EL
United Kingdom
+44-703-598-7137
CC: CENTRAL BANK OF UNITED KINGDOM
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [FSA]
CC: FEDERAL HIGH COURT UNITED KINGDOM
**********Disclaimer********** ************ ************ ************
************ ************
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
NSR of London (National Security Resilience)This message contains
confidential information and is intended only for the individual named.
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