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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 indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
- "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.
- david.barry57@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: DAVID BARRY <david.barry2@live.com>
Reply-To: david.b.esq10@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:24:14 -0200
Subject:
Hello,
I am David Barry, a solicitor at law. I am contacting you in
respect of a dormant account which amounts to 33.5 million us dollars
belonging to my late client who happens to bear the same surname with you .
I was given an ultimatum from the Bank to provide a member
of his family and all efforts to locate any has proved
Unsuccessful.
I want to present you as a surviving family member to enable
you put a claim to the funds. Please indicate your interest
for more information by responding to my private Email
account:david.barry57@hotmail.com
Thanks,
David Barry(Esq)
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Anti-fraud resources:
