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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:
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- suhong3@mail2hongkong.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Suu Hong" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <suhong3@mail2hongkong.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 16:26:58 +0100
Subject: Letter to you
Attention,
I am Suu Hong, Principal Assurance manager for a reputable Bank in Hong Kong. I am contacting you with regards to business transaction I want us to execute; it is in respect to a dormant account which amounts to Twelve Million Four Hundred Thousand Euro belonging to my late client who shares similar Surnames with you.
I was given an ultimatum from the Bank to provide a member of his family and all efforts to locate any has been proven Unsuccessful.
I want to present you as a surviving family member to enable you put a claim to the funds.
Please kindly indicate your interest for more information by responding to my private email address: suhong3@mail2hongkong.com
Yours faithfully,
Suu Hong
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Anti-fraud resources:
