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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:
- "liberia" (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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447024032672 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: Martin Johnson <martins@hodgesconsulting.info>
Reply-To: mr.jmartins@msn.com
Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:03:05 -0500
Subject: Hodges Consultancy Ltd
Dear Prospective Partner,
Greetings to you and your family, I hope this letter meets you in good health? My name is Martin Johnson, a freelance independent investment broker from Hodges Consultancy Ltd in London. Previously I was consulted by an erstwhile top-ranking member of a front line liberation movement in Liberia, whose organization had engaged the Liberian government in a protracted civil war since 1985. My client now wishes to channel his funds into a productive or real estate ventures instead of war and he intend to make this investment discreetly and under discretionary asset management arrangement.
I am seeking for a very reliable and honest person who will be capable to handle the project and I have contacted you on the consideration that we could discuss the possibility of my client placing his money with you for management either in your existing establishment or other venture to be undertaken at your discretion under terms to be agreed upon. Please I will be expecting your response inorder to discuss further in details.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Martin Johnson
Telephone:(44)7024032672
Private Email: mr.jmartins@msn.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
