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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Fred Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <f.williams@fwlaw.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 6 May 2016 06:10:24 -0700
Subject: Urgent Claim Proposal
Dear Friend,
I am Fred Williams an Independent Solicitor with GTC Law In the United Kingdom. I have before me a Proposal that might be of help for both of us for business Investment purpose. A client of mine deposited the Sum of $250m with the Royal London Group UK while working in Europe back in the 90's. It's sad that he died along with his wife in a Plane crash while on vacation in the US back in Year 2000 on Alaska Airlines Flight 261,They both had no children.
I have been advised by the Royal London Group where the funds is currently deposited to Introduce a Next of Kin for the claim of the money $250m. The money was recently identify as a Ghost owner. In-order not to declared the funds to the UK Government. I plan to introduce you to the Institution as the claim person for the said funds.
I will prepare all legal documents that will aid the release of the fund to you. Below are the terms & conditions.
1) SWIFT-transfer of the funds will initiated or any preferred form of collection.
2) 40% will be yours after you are in possession of the money.
3) 20% will go to the Charity.
4) 40% will be wired to the preferred account presented to you.
5) This is 100% risk free business transaction as I am the personal Lawyer to the initial depositor before the sudden death.
If you agree with the said above conditions reply back so I can e mail you further details about retrieval of the money.
Fred Williams
M: +447926126043
GTC Law
London-UK
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Anti-fraud resources:
