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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:
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Charles Stanley" <c.stanleyesq@lawyer.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: charlesstanley000101@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:23:02 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Regarding the Graham Robert Trust Fund:
Regarding the Graham Robert Trust Fund:
This is in regard to the Graham Robert trust fund amounting to the sum of
(US$155,600,000.USD), still pending claims with the transferring bank. I
have contacted you severally concerning this claims process and I
specifically made it clear that unless the requested fee is paid to the
transferring bank, the fund cannot or will not be transferred to your
account.
I at this point will warn that you try your utmost best to ensure that the
requested fee is paid to the transferring bank to ensure that the fund is
activated and transferred to your online account latest 48 hours after
confirmation of your payment. I want you to understand that at this point
there is no much time on your side as the British High court has given a
deadline date of 11/11/2011 for you to complete this transaction otherwise
the fund will be confiscated by their office exactly that date.
You are advised however, to ensure that the fee is paid ASAP so as to
ensure that the fund is transferred. Your immediate response to this
email will be appreciated. to this end the my chambers (Cole and Cole
associate) has appealed to the British High to kindly extend the deadline
date which initially was today (11/11/2011, to an additional one week to
enable you complete this fund transfer as soon as possible. my chambers
has however ever advised that you inform us of the exact reason why you
are delaying this fund transfer and to decline this fund transfer if you
think you are not going comply with the transferring bank directives of
paying the account activation charges
Have a nice day
Charles Stanley
+4407035956141
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Anti-fraud resources:
