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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin 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.
- mr.chris_allen@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Barriste Chris Allen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.chris_allen@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2019 08:25:23 -0700
Subject: GOOD DAY,
Please do not be embarrassed to receive this mail especially since we
do not know each other before, my concern is how to transfer my late
client money {Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars} out of Benin
Republic for a better investment in abroad.
My name is Barrister Chris Allen Chambers the personal attorney to Late Engr
Michael, a nationality of your country who died in auto accident with
his family. I contacted you to assist me in repatriating his deposited
fund valued $15.5M in a bank here.
The Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin to his
deposited fund or get it confiscated and transfer to the Government
Treasury as unclaimed fund.
Because I couldn't locate the relatives for over five years now, I
decided to seek your consent to present you to the bank as his
relative because you have the same last name so that the bank can
transfer his deposited fund into your account.
I wish to present you as his relative to claim his fund as you bear
same family name. For more details please reply to my alternative
Email mr.chris_allen@yahoo.com For more details to you, send your full
name
1. Full name:.........
2. Current Address:.........
3. Telephone N°:...........
4. Age:.............and Passport Photograph
Best Regards,
Barrister Allen Chris
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