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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:
- ",000,000" (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.)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
- 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.
- mattgibsonatlaw@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Myra Berman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mattgibsonatlaw@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2017 14:53:42 -0700
Subject: Noble Offer
Hello!
My name is Myra Berman; I was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer
and have been recently told by my doctor that I have limited days to
live due to the escalation of my cancer.
I was married to Hansen Berman who passed away recently in an
automobile crash, when my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of
$35,000,000 which were derived from his vast estates and investment in
capital market both in the UK and USA.
I would want you to utilize the funds by creating a charity foundation
called the BERMAN FOUNDATION to assist children and women from poor
origin to fight cancer.
Pls Contact our family lawyer with this specified email address below:
Barrister: Matt Gibson
Email: mattgibsonatlaw@gmail.com
Tell him that I have WILLED $35,000,000 to you by quoting my personal
reference number Law/chamber/solicitor/rt/Matt/WILL/78bwf5200B
Remain Blessed.
Yours truly,
Myra Berman
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Anti-fraud resources:
