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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:
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "with absolute secrecy" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- accesspeta_l2206@freemail.hu (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: David More <accesspeta@freemail.hu>
Reply-To: accesspeta_l2206@freemail.hu
Date: Sat, 10 Aug 2013 22:12:22 -0400
Subject: Re:URGENT!!!!
Greetings!!!
I apologize if the contents hereunder are contrary to your moral
ethics. But please treat with absolute secrecy and personal. I am an
employee of a commercial bank here in London and an Account Officer to
a deceased customer (LATE BOONE PICKENS) before I was promoted to the
post of Director of Auditing January this year,
We lost this customer and his family in an auto crash here in England
some years back and his account of ( US$36.2 Million U.S Dollars) with
us has been dormant and unclaimed due to unavailability of a next of
kin/relatives to claim his estate.
In accordance with the escheat laws of Great Britain, the Board Of
Directors of the Bank met a forth night ago and resolved to turn the
estate of the deceased over to the Government having waited for too
long without the deceased relatives/next of kin surfacing and if this
is done, invariably the funds will end up to become Government
property and it is as a result of this that I am moved to contact you
considering the fact that you will stand has the next of kin with the
deceased AND I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to
back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest
cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through.
In view of this, I am seeking for your co-operation and understanding
to stand as the deceased next of kin to enable us claim the
inheritance before the time period given by the Bank elapse and
indicate this information?s below:
1. YOUR NAME:..............................
2. YOUR FULL ADDRESS:...................................
3. YOUR TELEPHONE ..................................
4. FAX...................................................
5. AGE......................................................
6. SEX:....................................
7. YOUR OCCUPATION:.......................................
If you are interested and in agreement with me, please write back
immediately via my alternative email address: accesspeta_l2206@freemail.hu
Be rest assured that it is a risk free project and the proceedings
will be shared 50% each once the funds are repatriated into your
account either there in the United States Or elsewhere.
I wait for your prompt response.
Regards,
Mr. David More
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