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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr.morriscoleman@live.hk" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447045787148 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Oasis law firm" <barr.morriscoleman@live.hk>
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:09:17 +1030
Subject: Greetings,
Greetings,
I am Barr. Morris Coleman . I am reaching you to handle an investment portfolio.
I am reaching you to assist in repatriating the funds and property left behind by my late client before it will be
confiscated by government and declared unserviceable by the bank where the huge deposits of Twenty Million Six Hundred
Thousand British Pounds were lodged.
He died intestate and every attempt to trace any member of his family has proved abortive and unsuccessful.
Do note that who you are does not matter and you will be better
informed when I hear from you.
I want you to respond by sending:
1. Your full names
2. Tel & fax numbers
3. Complete Address
Send the above information and I will furnish you with more information about the estate and process of transfer to you.
Please contact me for further details:
Email address: barr.morriscoleman@live.hk
Tel: +44 704 578 7148
Yours Faithfully,
Barrister Morris Coleman Esq.
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Anti-fraud resources:
