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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:
- "million us dollars" (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.
- hugehwalker@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. HUGE WALKER" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hugehwalker@aim.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2011 13:36:21 +0200
Subject: HELLO
Dear Prospective Partner,
I am writing to you on behalf of Mr. Chen Shui-bian. My name is Huge Walker and I am a top management executive here at the Industrial & Commercial Bank of
China (London) Limited. Our bank website is http://www.icbcasia.com
My friend Mr. Chen Shui-bian has presented a subtle offer which will need the help of a partner like you to complete successfully. Mr. Chen Shui-bian is in a
difficult situation and he must immediately relocate certain sums of money out of Industrial & Commercial Bank of China. More so, this must be done in such a
way that it must not be tied to Mr. Chen. The sum is currently deposited in the name of an existing legal entity. Your role will be to:
[1]. Act as the original beneficiary of the funds.
[2]. Receive the funds into a business/private bank account by working with me on the Confidential and Private process.
[3]. Invest/Manage the funds outside of China.
[4]. Value of funds: $40 Million US Dollars.
Everything will be done legally to ensure the rights to the funds are transferred to you. If you agree to partner with Mr. Chen, he will compensate
you with 25% of the total sum. Should you prefer I re-contact you with more express facts, you can send me your:
[1] Full Names:
[2] Personal profile:
[3] Daytime Telephone No:
[4] Country
For Mr. Chen Shui-bian's current profile visit this site:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8251444.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/ asia-pacific/8233342.stm
You can email me at hugehwalker@aim.com for further details, for
terms and agreement.
Sincerely,
Mr. Huge Walker
ICBC (London) Limited
36 King Street London EC2V 8BB
United Kingdom.
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Anti-fraud resources:
