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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- kev747whel@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. James Donald" <>
Reply-To: kn787mat@aol.com
Date: Tue, 08 Dec 2015 11:46:58 -0500
Subject: From James Donald, Compliment
From: Mr. James Donald
E-mail: kev747whel@yahoo.co.jp
8th Dec., 2015.
Hello,
It is a pleasure for me to contact you with respect. I am Mr. James Donald a Nigerian citizen and, a financial representative/consultant to business moguls and politicians here in Nigeria and overseas
There is a client of mine account that I have had to administer for the past six years. Although my client died in very unfortunate circumstances, before the catastrophe; He made a deposit with no existing beneficiaries with the Finance Firm that we can safely engage for investment funding before they are declared unserviceable or unclaimed funds. It is my mandate as clients' financial consultant to facilitate the release of this fund to a verified beneficiary.
I have decided to seek your assistance INDEPENDENTLY and have you receive this fund on my behalf. All the legal requirements will be fulfilled to have you as a proven beneficiary of the claim. The amount in question is sum of US$17.1M and you will gladly compensate with 35% after the deal is done while 10% for the Poor and Orphans.
At your interest please send your details for further directive so that I can avail you with more information and the mutual benefits that will accrue. I hope you will understand the nature of this transaction, which has made me frugal with sensitive information.
Best regards
Mr. James Donald
E-mail: kev747whel@yahoo.co.jp
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