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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:
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- a_williams@mail2judge.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "A.WILLIAMS + CO." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <a_williams@mail2judge.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:57:28 +1100
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL DEAL
A. WILLIAMS + Co…… (Solicitors+ Debt Collector)
2, James George Str. Ikoyi Lagos.
Tel; +234.806.234.2318
Email: a_williams@mail2judge.com
FAX: +16307335861
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March 30, 2011.
Ref; albaw/ref. 5432/vol.6 /11
Dear Sir,
Business Proposition
I was given to understand that you might be able and reliable enough to handle a strictly confidential business transaction?
I am a lawyer and business associate of a past Governor of a State here currently being tried in Dubai and London on charges of misappropriation of State funds. Incidentally, a good portion of said funds remain undetected and in deposit with a firm in a specific country abroad under high Diplomatic cover.
I have the authority of my client to arrange with capable hands for this deposit to be moved to a substantive safe bank account and invested in real estate portfolio.
Considering this unverified medium of contact, I am sorry to have to keep it mostly under wraps pending receipt of your response determining your capability or not to exactly do this. Only then will it be safe and apposite to discuss details, procedure and benefits.
Thank you for your time while I look to have your reply in earnest.
A. WILLIAMS Esq. LLB (SAN)
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Anti-fraud resources:
