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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:
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Brown Morgan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <browmorgan353@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:03:41 +0100
Subject: SECOND NOTICE
Hello,
I secured your contact through a directory and that is why I have written to let you know that there are Millions of British Pounds Sterling in the codicil and last testament of a deceased who happens to be my client (Name now withheld). Since this is our second letter to you, I am hereby, contacting you again because you are qualified by your name identity since you bear the same surname with the deceased and could receive the funds upon claims.
We request that you kindly forward to us your letter of acceptance; Your current telephone and fax numbers and a forwarding address to enable us file necessary documents at our high court probate division for the release of this sum of money.
I await your response.
Kind regards,
Brown Morgan
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Anti-fraud resources:
