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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:
- "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million british 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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- michaelsonadamphlip@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Philip Michaelson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaelsonadamphlip@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2017 02:02:13 -0700
Subject: Next Of Kin
Hello Dear,
This mail might come to you as a surprised but I am looking for a trustworthy person I can arrange this business with. My Name is Philip Michaelson, I work with First Trust Bank UK as an Accountant. During our recent audit, I found that there was funds amounting to 7.5Million British Pounds that has been in our suspense account and the original owner is late, without any Next of Kin to the funds.
I want to bring you in as the Next of Kin to the deceased so that the Bank can transfer the funds in your nominated account and both of us can split it 50/50 basis. I have been mandated by the Bank to find the Next of Kin to the deceased. I will give you all information so that we can get the funds. I will resign my position and join you up after the transfer is made into your nominated account. I want you to treat this information with utmost confidentiality to secure my position in the Bank for now.
Awaiting your response.
Regards,
Philip Michaelson.
michaelsonadamphlip@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
