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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:
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- stephenpowers601@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Stephen Powers" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stephenpowers601@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 03:01:06 +0800
Subject: I am presently in your country.
I have been mandated to deliver your inheritance to you in your country of residence.
The funds total US$10.5 Million and you were made the beneficiary of these funds by a benefactor whose details will be revealed to you after handing over the funds to you in accordance with the Agreement I signed with the benefactor when he enlisted my assistance in delivering the funds to you.
The funds are clean from any form of illegality as there are sufficient documentations to prove it.
I am presently in your Country and before I can deliver the funds to you, you have to reconfirm the following information so as to ensure that I am dealing with the right person
1. Full Name
2.Residential Address/City
3.Age
4.Occupation
5.Direct Telephone Numbers
After verification of the information with what I have on file,I shall contact you so that we can make arrangements on the exact date I will be bringing your package to your residential address.
Due to the amount of money involved,it is necessary that you handle the transaction with utmost confidentiality and secrecy until you receive the package.
Absolute Discretion should be your watchword.
Send the requested information so that we can proceed.
Regards
Stephen Powers
(PROVOST EMERITUS).
Email; stephenpowers601@yahoo.co.jp
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Anti-fraud resources:
