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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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "@lawyer.com" (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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- barrister_desmondcole@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Shannon Morris" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barrister_desmondcole@lawyer.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:31:43 -0400
Subject: MY WILL
Good Day,
I presumed that all is well with you and your family, My name is Mrs. Shannon Morris. I am a dying woman who had decided to donate part of what I have to you.I was diagnosed for cancer two years ago.
Please let this not be a surprise ofter to you because i got your contact information from the international directory in few weeks ago before i decided to contact you on this magnitude and lucrative ofter for your future survival in life and the less privileged ones.
I have been touched by God to donate from what I have to you I have decided to WILL the sum of £2,700,000.00 (two million, Seven hundred thousand Pound Sterlings) to you as part of my legacy. I have informed my attorney about my decision.
Contact my attorney with his personal contact below for more details:
Name: Barrister Desmond Cole
Email: barrister_desmondcole@lawyer.com
Do not reply me, I will not be able to read or reply your email.
God bless you
Mrs Shannon Morris.
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Anti-fraud resources:
