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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:
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- replyandinvest@financier.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: info@news.com
Reply-To: rolland-rothrock@usa.com
Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 18:21:37 +0100
Subject: FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY!!!
Hello Dear,
My name is Rolland Rothrock, an Asset Manager/Director with Hookis
Finance & Investment Corporation in New York.
A client of mine from Washington DC just passed away of Heart Failure and
before her death, had asked us to donate her funds to any reputable person
here in the states, since she had no family. As her asset managers we
cannot claim these funds for ourselves as its against our company's
business ethics; so i write to you to receive this $27Million USD as a
beneficiary. When you receive the funds, we will share the funds equally.
The funds of $27Million is currently in an offshore account with Bank of
America here in New York and once you contact the bank; they will transfer
the funds directly into your account.
Please send me a copy of your ID and mobile number if you are interested.
Sincerely,
Rolland Rothrock
Director
replyandinvest@financier.com
+1-347-709-6910
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Anti-fraud resources:
