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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 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.
- anthony_w@excite.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- no: yours faithfully, mr anthony watson private email:anthony_w@excite.co.uk or anthonywtsn6@gmail.com (Excite; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Anthony Watson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <anthony_w@excite.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2010 06:37:08 +0100
Subject: Dear Prospective Partner
Dear Prospective Partner
I am Anthony Watson Non-Executive Director and Member of Audit Committee
Lloyds TSB Bank plc. I wish to present you to my bank as the beneficiary
to the fund deposited by my deceased customer.
Please visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7785193.stm for more
details.
I can present you to my bank as the beneficiary to this fund. The legal
Affidavits that will testify that you are the beneficiary will be secured
by me in your acceptance to co-operate with me and facilitate this deal.
Everything will be done legally to ensure the rights to the funds are
transferred to you. Your role will be to:
[1]. Act as the original beneficiary of the funds.
[2]. Receive the funds into a business/private bank account.
[3]. Value of funds: ?12,500,000.00 Twelve Million, Five Hundred Thousand
Great Britain Pounds Sterling.
If you agree to partner with me, I will compensate you with 40% of the
total sum. Should you prefer I re-contact you with more express facts, you
can send me your:
[1] Official Full Names:
[2] Company or Personal profile:
[3] Daytime Telephone No:
Yours faithfully,
Mr Anthony Watson
Private Email:anthony_w@excite.co.uk or anthonywtsn6@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
