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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:
- "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- waltk1000@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Walter Kelvin" <first@onlinebank.org> (may be fake)
Reply-To: waltk0000@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:06:43 -0000 (Singapore)
Subject:
Basically we are all aware that Internet communication is not the best
way to link up with you because of the confidentiality which my proposal
demands. However, I have already sent you this same letter one month ago,
but I am not sure if it did get to you since I have not heard from you,
hence I am constrained to reach you again through the Internet which has
been abused over the years. I wish to notify you again that you were
listed as an Heir to the total sum of (Seven Million GBP £7M) in the
codicil and last testament of the deceased . I contacted you because you
had similar identity and therefore can present you as the Heir to the
inheritance funds.Please indicate your interest immediately and I shall
feed you with full details of this transaction upon receipt of your
reply.Reply via this email- waltk1000@yahoo.com.hk
Sincerely,
Kelvin W.
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Anti-fraud resources:
