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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 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.
- raymond.h000@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Raymond Ho <raymond.h000@gmail.com>
Reply-To: raymond.h000@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 11:23:14 +0100
Subject:
This is for your attention.
We wish to notify you again that you were listed as a beneficiary to the
total sum of four million six hundred thousand pounds sterling in the
intent of the deceased (names witheld because this is our second letter to
you) we contacted you because you bear the same surname identity with our
late client and can therefore present you as the beneficiary to the
inheritance since there was no written will.
Our legal services aim to provide our clients with a complete service. we
are happy to prepare wills, set up and administer trust, carry
administration of estates, prepare and administer powers of attorney.
All papers will be prepared in your acceptance to this transaction. In
your acceptance, we request that you kindly send us your current
telephone and fax numbers and a forwarding address sp we can file the
necessary documentation in the high court probate division for the release
of this sum of money. Contact the following address for further
information: raymond.h000@hotmail.com
Yours Faithfully,
Raymond Ho.
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Anti-fraud resources:
