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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:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million dollars" (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.
- desmondleng@sify.com (Sify; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Desmond Leng Office" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <desmondleng@sify.com>
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 03:53:21 +0700
Subject: Hello!!
NOTIFICATION OF BEQUEST:
On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Mr. Edwin Gabriel,
I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned undelivered. I
hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email address on the WILL. I wish
to notify you that late Mr. Edwin Gabriel made you a beneficiary to his WILL. He
left the sum of Twenty four Million Dollars {usd$24.0000}to you
in the codicil and last testament to his will.
Late Edwin Gabriel died on the 16th day of February 2004 at the age of
90 years and his WILL is now ready for execution According to him, this money is
to support his Christian
activities (May his soul rest with the Lord) and to help the poor and needy.
Please endeavor to get back to me as soon as
possible to enable me conclude my job.
I hope to hear from you in no distant date.Please contact me on this
email:(desmondleng@sify.com)
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Anti-fraud resources:
