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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- simonlooks@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Simon Looks" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lookssimon@ymail.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 11:18:27 +0800
Subject: FROM MR SIMON LOOKS
Dear Beloved.
My names are Simon Looks I worked with Australia embassy for Fourteen years before I fell sick May 2009,during the process I lost my wife and my only son since then I have been on medical treatment after which it was confirmed by my doctor that I have cancer, I do not know if I am going to survive this illness, I want to donate the sum of(Ten Million seven hundred thousand United State Dollars)to a church or a Christian individual that will use these funds to fund orphanage homes help the needy and widows including reasonable business investment to keep the long time needs of the needy and to ensure the house of God is maintained.
If you are interested in what I have explained here in, respond back to me as soon as possible for more information’s. You will be rewarded with 10% for your assistance and time effort for standing on my behalf to transfer my donation funds and for accepting to carry out my wishes of helping the needy.
Remain blessed in the name of the Lord.
Yours in Christ
Mr Simon Looks
CONTACT ME ON MY PERSONAL
EMAIL: simonlooks@yahoo.com.hk
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