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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)
- "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.
- johnfranklin55413@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: john_franklin59@aol.com
Reply-To: johnfranklin55413@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 08 Sep 2016 12:58:50 +0800
Subject: From Mr John Franklin
Dear Friend
I sent this letter to you a month ago, but I'm not sure if you get it,
I did not hear from you, this is the reason why i repeat it again.
am Barrister John Franklin .It is my wish to present you as next of kin to my deceased client, who has the same family name as you. Whom I aided in making an investment deposit with a bank in my country worth $6.2million Six Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars. I informed the bank of his passing on and was instructed to present any available member of his family or close relative to be paid the funds hence my contacting you. I can make you inherit the funds Please acknowledge if your email is still valid to enable me explain more. You can contact me on my private email address.(johnfranklin55413@yahoo.com)
Yours faithfully
Barrister John Franklin
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Anti-fraud resources:
