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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- farahsaeedi1862@163.com (163; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Anthony Farah." (may be fake)
Reply-To: < farahsaeedi1862@163.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2018 13:48:33 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend
Attention: Dear Friend;
I am a staff of METRO BANK LONDON. I have a business proposal which I will like to introduce to you that will be to our mutual benefit. A deceased client of mine who shares the same last names as yours deposited valuables with our Bank and did not come for it before he died.
It is over five (5) years after his death and based on the banking rules and regulations this valuables will be forfeited to the authorities if nobody comes forward to claim it as the deaceased next of kin.
Based on the similarity of the same last names that you bear with our deceased client, we hereby propose to present you as our deceased client's next of kin and consequently put you in the position to claim this valuables, which will then be shared between you and our team.
All the documents required to back up the claims in your name will be made available to you after your acceptance of this proposal and I look forward to receive your return mail Via my email address.
I will equally let you know other details and requirements of this transaction thereafter.
Email me back via: farahsaeedi1862@163.com
Sincerely Yours
Mr. Anthony Farah.
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Anti-fraud resources:
