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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 united states dollars" (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)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "lebanross@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Leban Ross <dr.kennethdickson14@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: Leban Ross <lebanross@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2012 00:29:30 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Business Proposal
Â
Dear Sir,
I am Leban Ross, the chief corporate investment banker of a bank in Switzerland.
I most solicit your confidence in what I am about to tell you. This is by virtue
of it’s nature as being highly confidential and urgent.
I am looking for a reliable and reputable person to handle a confidential business
transaction. A leading businessman and statesman, a citizen of your country until
his death, he banked and had a closing balance of Eighteen Million United States
Dollars in a fixed deposit account.
Which the bank unquestionably expects to be claimed by any available foreign next
of kin to the late beneficiary. Also I would want us to invest this fund in your
country on properties, hotel or any lucrative business as you may choose. I would
like to discuss with you in regards to this deal.
In your reply please tell me more about yourself and include your
telephone number for easy communication.
Best Regards
Leban Ross
EMAIL: lebanross@live.com
TEL: + 41 (22) 5181033
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Anti-fraud resources:
