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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:
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- +447035946538 (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.
- dredwardkerry006@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DrEdward Kerry" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dredwardkerry006@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 06:12:26 +0100
Subject: Second Letter
THIS IS FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
We wish to notify you again that you were listed as a beneficiary to
the total sum of Eight million Six hundred thousand British pounds
in the codicil and last testament of the deceased. (Name now withheld
since this is our second letter to you).We contacted you because you
bear the surname identity and therefore can present you as the beneficiary
to the inheritance.
We therefore reckoned that you can receive these funds as you are
qualified by your name identity. All the legal papers will be processed
in your acceptance. In your acceptance of this deal, 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.
Please contact me via my private email :(dredwardkerry006@yahoo.com.hk) or Call me immediately you receive this email on +44-703-594-6538, so that
We can get this done immediately.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Edward Kerry
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Anti-fraud resources:
