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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 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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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: Ben Rayment <joeburns001@gmail.com>
Reply-To: benrayment01@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2016 03:06:12 -0700
Subject: Please use for the less privileged
Your e-mail address came up in a random draw conducted by our law firm,
Reality Law Chambers here in Lagos Nigeria.
My name is Ben Rayment. A personal attorney to our late client Mr.
Takanori Sakurai who used to work with Shell British Petroleum here in
Nigeria. Mr.Takanori Sakurai, a well known Philanthropist, made a Will in
our law firm stating that ($10 Million United States Dollars) should be
donated to any Philanthropist of our choice if he dies.
We have made a random draw and your e-mail address was picked as the
beneficiary to this Will. I am particularly interested in securing this
money from the Bank, because they have issued a notice instructing us to
produce the beneficiary of this Will within two weeks which happens to be
you or else the money will be credited to the Government treasury as
regards to law here.
It is my utmost desire to execute the Will of our late client. You are
required to contact me immediately to start the process of transferring
this money to any of your designated official account. I urge you to
contact me immediately for further details bearing in mind that the Bank
has given us a date limit.
I shall give you additional details as soon as you indicate your interest
to claim this fund.
You can contact me urgently via my email or telephone.
Congratulation,
Barr. Ben Rayment.
+234 818 955 6400
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