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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- +447024033840 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- barristerpatricklinz11@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Barrister Patrick Linz Esq" <info@barr.com>
Reply-To: barristerpatricklinz11@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 15 May 2010 10:33:27 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: NOTIFICATION OF BEQUEST
MANAGING PARTNER
PATRICK LINZ & ASSOCIATES LAW FIRM
17-18 Rex House Regent Street London
SW1Y 4PE,United Kingdom
TEL: +44-702-403-3840
FAX: +44-707-505-5785
NOTIFICATION OF BEQUEST
On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Engr.David Peet
I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned
undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email
address stated on the WILL. I wish to notify you that late Engr. David
Peet made you a beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of Seven Million
One Hundred Thousand Dollars (USD$7, 100.000.00 ) to you in the codicil
and last testament to his WILL.
Engr. David Peet until his death was a member of the Helicopter Society
and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers. He was a very
dedicated Christian who loved to be involved in charitable projects. His
great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his life time.
Late Engr. David Peet died on the 13th day of February, 2006 at the age of
70 years, and his WILL is now ready for execution.According to him this
money is to support your humanitarian activities and to help the poor and
the needy in our society. Please if I reach you this time as I am hopeful,
endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my
job.
I hope to hear from you in no distant time.
Email:barristerpatricklinz11@yahoo.com.hk
Yours in Service,
Barrister Patrick Linz Esq.
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Anti-fraud resources:
