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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:
- "million british 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)
- ",000,000" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447011128774 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: Tim Tookey <t.tookey63@gmail.com>
Reply-To: tookeyt63@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:03:42 -0500
Subject: ATTENTION: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED
My Name is Tim J W Tookey: Group Finance Director , LLOYDS BANK LONDON
.view my
profile for further details about me. (
http://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/about_us/directors/board_directors.asp )
I have a deal which I will be happy to transact with you if you have a
coporate
or personal Bank Account. I need strong Assurance that you will never let me
down,if I transter this money to your account.
The money to transfer is 52,000,000 (Fifty two Million British Pounds)
this fund
belongs to a customer of the bank who died in a plane crash some time
in 2002 ,I
am constrained to issue more details about this business until your
response is received.
I am looking forward to hearing from you as soon as possible if you are
interested. call me on my direct mobile +44701112 8774 for a heart to
heart talk
and also email me with your direct telephone and fax numbers
Thank you for your time and attention.
Tim J W Tookey
+44701112 8774
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Anti-fraud resources:
