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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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.
- esq.nailcarlos@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: NAIL CARLOS <alexortizess@gmail.com>
Reply-To: esq.nailcarlos@gmail.com
Date: 11 Mar 2022 12:21:01 +0100
Subject: Hi my Friend
Dear Sir/Madam,
I write to you in good faith and trust that you will take a
moment to consider the contents of this letter. I am Barr.
Carlos, I am lawyer to a late client who lodged a huge some of
fund in bank/safe keeping in Spain, my client died in a car
accident with his wife and children. All effort made to track any
member of his family or next of kin has since failed, hence I got
in contact with you to stand as his next of kin. He died leaving
no heir or a WILL.
Reply stating your direct telephone number so as to enable me to
call you to explain in detail on the modalities of this
proposition. The entire process will be completed within 10
working days. I completely trust you to keep this proposition
absolutely confidential and I also want you to know that this
transaction is 100% risk free. I look forward to your prompt
response to my direct email address: esq.nailcarlos@gmail.com
Best Regards,
Carlos
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Anti-fraud resources:
