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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.
- 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.
- bernardrussel@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Bernard Russell <BernardRusse@aim.com>
Reply-To: BernardRussel@aim.com
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:22:30 -0600
Subject: Contact me
Greetings, I am Mr. Bernard Russell a close aid as well investment
consultant, I have been mandated by my client Suzanne Mubarak wife of
Ex Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to source for a reliable partner
who will assist her take safe custody of her funds, as my client
presently have with Commercial Bank of Dubai Ltd. the sum of $8
Million; this became imperative as her husband has been forced out of
office due to the current political unrest in Egypt also Swiss bank
and other top banks has started confiscating her deposit with them.
Thus the need to move the funds with Commercial Bank of Dubai Ltd. to
you is tagged URGENT. FOR DETAILS PLEASE REPLY TO MY PRIVATE EMAIL:
BernardRussel@aim.com.
Regards, Bernard Russell
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Anti-fraud resources:
