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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge amount of money" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- legalattorneyatlaw@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Attorney at Law <alaza.mamadou@gmail.com>
Reply-To: legalattorneyatlaw@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2015 01:10:10 -0700
Subject: MESSAGE TO YOU
Dear Friend,
I have unclaimed funds with the bank here in Benin Republic valued
Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars owned by a
deceased customer to my client a Bank Auditor. I contacted you to
receive the funds of which you can share it Fifty percent to you and
Fifty percent to my client.If you can choose to receive the funds via
bank to bank transfer; then we will have to take the necessary legal
int'l transfer procedures on huge amount of money. It will be in-line
with the IMF financial regulations of which I will take those
necessary legal steps on your behalf.
You should therefore confirm your readiness to receive the
inheritance funds by providing me with your full home address, phone
numbers, age,occupation and full name to my private email address
at:(legalattorneyatlaw@yahoo.com) for reconfirmation purpose. Once I
received your personal data as requested, I will go ahead with the
necessary arrangement to ship or transfer the funds.
Note: you are guarantee that you will not be put to any risk or
danger. I can issue you a guarantee document from the court here to
ascertain my words.
Best Regards,
Barrister Jean Balogoun.
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