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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "James Eric Esq" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.jameseric1968@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2022 18:57:13 +0200
Subject: "Fwd: Compliments of the season.
Compliments of the season.
I am Barrister James Eric practicing in Portugal but currently in Canada on an official assignment. The nature of my services covers individuals, corporate bodies and institutions. I also represent Government Departments as an External Solicitor.
On behalf of the trustees and executors to the Will of late DR Ivor Salinsky I have tried to reach you by mail but the letter was returned undelivered I now try your new e-mail.I wish to notify you that you were named as a beneficiary in the funds be quested to certain individuals by my late client DR. Willy Kushner., a Russian National(now deceased). I was Dr.Kushner's attorney for several years before his untimely death .
He was buried on the 23rd of August, 2004 and his will is now in execution.
It might be of interest to you to inform you that late DR Willy Kushner, was keenly interested in your esteemed self and was a frequent follower of your activities He be quested the sum of US$6.5million to you. He said that this token is to support your activities.
For this reason I am contacting you.
I hereby request that you forward any proof to identify you such as details of your passport or driver's License etc also forward your current telephone and fax numbers and your current contact address to enable me be able to reach you and file necessary documents at our high court probate Division for the release of the bequest.
Please do contact me for more information
Regards
James Eric Esq
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Anti-fraud resources:
