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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)
- 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.
- consult.judiciarylawfirm@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Michael Williams <info@law>
Reply-To: consult.judiciarylawfirm@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2016 21:43:24 +0300
Subject: News About your late relative
Dear Friend,
How are you today? I am writing to inform you that you are the beneficiary of the total sum of US$22.8 Million belonging to your late relative who was a resident of Turkey before he dead, This Fund has been approved and ready to be release and re-transferred into your account in your Country. My name is Honorable Michael Williams who will be assisting you as a legal practitioner to receive this amount into your account in your Country.
Urgently get back to me so that I can give you more details and procedures which you are to follow in order to receive this amount into your account in your country.
Thank you very much as I wait for your urgent respond.
Yours sincerely,
Honorable Michael Williams
Email: consult.judiciarylawfirm@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
