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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:
- "million pounds" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <brownjones1_info@barid.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2016 06:59:59 -0400
Subject: Kindly Express Your Interest
Can I trust you my Name is Jones Brown associate to
James Ibori. He was one of our clients until his recent case which
eventually found him, his wife, sister and cousin guilty. Though all of them
have been sentenced to different degree of jail terms except our principal
client James Ibori whom ? have already been found guilty and will be sentenced
in April 2012. ( He was final given a 13yrs jail term ) http://allafrica.com/stories/201204180458.html
http://www.breakingnews.com/topic/james-ibori
He told me in confidence of existence of #15Million Pounds Sterling
deposited with a Security Firm. Further details will be communicated to you
as soon as you accept to partner with me. All documents relating to the said
Fund is within my disposal.
Please, always keep this secret and confidential whether you are in or not
Jones
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Anti-fraud resources:
