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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:
- "million dollars" (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.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- hmmyou10@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- reply if interested for more details. email me directly at: hmmyou10@gmail.com or eku.lawfirm@gmail.com yours faithfully, barrister (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "hmmyou10@gmail.com" <hmmyou12@gmail.com>
Reply-To: hmmyou10@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2021 18:56:37 +0000
Subject: INVESTMENT.
PLEASE READ AND REPLY ME NOW VERY URGENT.
With due respect I have contacted you before and there was no response
from you, I am aware of the unsafe nature of the internet but was
compelled to use it due to the urgency and nature of this proposal. I
am an attorney and I contacted you because of a staunch client of mine
that bears similar names like yours who died along with all his family
few years ago. He is having a multi-million dollars fixed deposit bank
account left behind him without an heir or next of kin registered in
the bank. I am his lawyer till his death and will want to presented
you as my late client trustee/next of kin before the bank, to enable
the bank to release this amount to you for us to share the money 50%
for you and 50% for me. This is pure business that will benefit both
of us and I will want you to keep it secret and confidential, he might
not be your relative in any way, but I have made all necessary
underground plans for the smooth completion of this transaction. Reply
if interested for more details.
Email me directly at: hmmyou10@gmail.com or eku.lawfirm@gmail.com
Yours Faithfully,
Barrister Ettienne Eku (Principla Attorney)
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Anti-fraud resources:
