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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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.)
- "barr." (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 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.
- +447045739682 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "EBERHARD TROST" <e_trost@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: ebnerhardtrost@careceo.com
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:49:18 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Mein Vorschlag FRIEND!
Attn: Happy New Year friend! Please do not click on your reply button
because I may not hear from you. JUST SEND YOUR EMAIL TO:
ebnerhardtrost@careceo.com
Although you might be apprehensive about my email as we have not meet
before, I am Barrister Eberhard Trost an Investment/Banking
Attorney/Consultant here in the United Kingdom. In 2004, My late client
Mr. Anthony Vincent Usman of United Arab made a private deposit of
€15,000,000.00EUR Million at the AFG Finance & Private Bank as a one his
numerous loots of public funds; thus he made this a secret deposit. I have
contacted you to share this great opportunity to be that foreign
associate. As I was is Foreign Attorney here in the UK before his death, I
will make little adjustments to the original documents for the funds to be
released to you. All the legal documents are still in my possession. The
only question are: Are you that serious type? Are you trustworthy,
faithful and determined? I pray and Hope so my friend! Get back to me with
answers for details to proceed immediately!
Regards
Barr. (Mr.) Eberhard Trost
+44-70-4573-9682 (office)
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Anti-fraud resources:
