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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand great british pounds" (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)
- 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.
- tmichle1@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "TERRY MICHEL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tmichle01@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:43:36 -0700
Subject: 16/06/2011-- REPLY
Dear Friend,
Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you. I got your contact from a computerize data following my effort searching for a
trustworthy person to assist me.
My name is TERRY MICHEL, a seasoned Banker with a Leading Bank here in London as well an account officer to a deceased Robert Norachai.,Who died in An accident Along with his family while on a holiday in Thailand in 2004.
Robert Norachai Deposited ?9.5M (Nine Million, Five Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds Only) with us have been unclaimed due to unavailability of next of kin/relatives to claim his estate. I am seeking your cooperation to stand as the NEXT OF KIN to enable us claim the inheritance before the period given by the bank elapse. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you.
If you are interested, send me the followings through my email address stated above:- tmichle1@yahoo.co.jp
Complete First and Last names
Complete Address
Phone and Fax Numbers
Date of Birth
Occupation
Marital Status
Copy of Your Identification (International Passport Or Drivers License)
Please I want this deal to be very secret and should not be disclose to anyone. If you have any questions let me know ASAP.
Thank you for your understanding.
TERRY MICHEL
tmichle1@yahoo.co.jp
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Anti-fraud resources:
