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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:
- "million 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 next of kin scam.
- 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.
- +447035937092 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- markklein.esq@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mark W. Klein Esq" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markklein.esq@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2013 17:56:24 +0100
Subject: Hello Friend (Can I Trust You?).
I am Mark W. Klein attorney to late Mr.Richard,who died in a car crash in London with his family on November 5th 2001.He left behind a deposit of (£9.8 million Pounds) for you as his next of kin and you have the same last name with my late client who was a citizen of the United State,You are related to him,Your consent is needed by me to present you as the next of kin to the Bank to inherit his fortune.
I have all documents that would give you all the legal right to claim this money which belong to your uncle, After a little check my instinct tells me to contact you.
Can I trust you on this? Send me your full names. You can reach me on my private lines: +447035937092 or Email me (markklein.esq@hotmail.com) and Re-confirm your full names
Best Regards
Mark W. Klein Esq.
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Anti-fraud resources:
