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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:
- "million british pounds" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Simon Henry" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <simonhenry@gmx.us>
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2012 21:07:05 +0100
Subject: Re: Happy to have found you:>>>
Hello,
I am Simon Henry, a principle Assurance Manager in a bank in United Kingdom. I am contacting you in regards to the 12 million British Pounds Sterling belonging to my deceased client.
The bank are trying to confiscate the money and they have given me an ultimatum to provide a member of his family and all effort to provide his relatives have been unsuccessful. Since you have the same surname with my client I would like to present you as the rightful person to claim the money.
Please reply back for further information and instructions.
Please with due respect send reply to my private email: simonhenry@gmx.us
Thank you,
Simon Henry
simonhenry@gmx.us
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Anti-fraud resources:
