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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million pounds" (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)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "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 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.
- elizafrancesca@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Elizabeth Francesca" (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:06:01 +0100
Subject: May You Be Blessed As You Reach Me. . .
Greetings to you Dear,I know this will come to you as a great surprise. My Name is Elizabeth Francesca, I am from London and I work with the HSBC Bank here in London. Recently I discovered 36.5,million pounds in the Bank dormant account belonging to one late Mr. Paul Smith who used to be a foreign investor in my Bank. This man was confirmed dead in a plane crash some 15years ago and till now no trace or info about his next of kin or relatives.
I want to plan a deal with you as I will present you to my bank as the next of kin or relation to late Mr. Paul Smith for the claim of this funds, So that we can share it when I come over to meet with you facially when this money has been Successfully transferred to you.
please note that there is no risk involved and I am ready to compensate you fine. please get back to me via my email for more details
Email: elizafrancesca@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
