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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:
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- 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.
- barr.shallywaiter@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms. Carman L. Lapointe" <scanner@rotamil.com.br>
Reply-To: "Ms. Carman L. Lapointe" <ms.carman_lapointe@qq.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 06:49:01 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: Alert From JP Morgan Chase Bank
Greetings to you .
How are you doing today i hope all is well with you and your family, My name is Ruice Smith, I work as an accountant with the Chase Bank here in the UNITED STATE OF AMERICA, I want to bring to your notice in respect of your compensation worth $2.5m United State Dollars funds coming from Africa in conjunction with the Uk Board of Trustees, This is to inform you that you are kindly advice not to send any money to anyone over there in UK or Africa because your funds is presently here in our bank here in the UNITED STATE OF AMERICA.
I will kindly want you to please re-confirm this information and get back to me before i can make a remittance regarding your funds to you.
Note: I will kindly advice you to keep this letter a very confidential one and never let out to anyone until this transfer is been completed because we don't know who is next to you.Less i forget, will want you to kindly get back to my boss head of department with his below information , name of your next of Kin and also a scan copy of your driver License and your phone number.
Head Of Department Details to send the information requested to:
Name: BARRISTER MRS. SHELLY WEISS WAITER
E-Mail Address: barr.shallywaiter@hotmail.com
Phone Number: (732) 535-7915
I hope to hear from you soonest.
Thanks and Remain Blessed
Ruice Smith
Representing Chase Bank.
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Anti-fraud resources:
