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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:
- 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:
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "barr.adamshowell@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- +447045756535 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "ADAMS HOWELL CHAMBERS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barr.adamshowell@live.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:27:06 -0700
Subject: HELLO FRIEND,
My name is Adams Howell esq, Senior partner Howell chambers, UK. I am contacting you on behalf of my client Mrs. Melina Lewis who is in a sick bed presently and has a very short time to live. Her last wishes as requested by her includes a desire to commit her estate into the hands of a responsible and God fearing person that will follow her laid down procedures in administration of her estate.
I'm earnestly seeking for your cooperation. Contact me for further information.
E-mail:Barr.adamshowell@live.com
Tel:+447045756535
Regards,
Adams Howell
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Anti-fraud resources:
