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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:
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- investors.ukagent@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: London Investors Agent <londoninvestors512@gmail.com>
Reply-To: investors.ukagent@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 6 May 2010 08:09:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Long Term Investment.
Attn Partner,
Long Term Investment.
Well let me start by introducing my self: I am Mrs Rebecca Hayford, a BRITISH CITIZEN and an investors agent .
I got your contact in my search for a reputable and reliable person In Your Country with divine confidence for your assistance in investing a long term investment of {$25.5M) in building big mall etc for one of my client who is a Government Contractor in UK.
Please Kindly take out a moment of your very busy schedule today to reply us email (investors.ukagent@gmail.com ) for more details and outline to me any other profitable investments opportunities available in your country for my client consideration.
Information Required:
1. Your Name / company name:
2. Your Address:
3. Contact Telephone/ mobile (include country code:
4. Position /Age / Sex:
I will be waiting for your urgent response.
London Agent.
TeleFax +448704954370
website www.londoninvestors.co.uk
Email investors.ukagent@gmail.com
Mrs Rebecca Hayford
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Anti-fraud resources:
