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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (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 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.
- barrdesmond_okolo@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: desmond okolo <desmondokolo34@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2014 17:27:27 +0100
Subject: Reply Urgently
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Dear Friend,
I have emailed you earlier without a response. In my first email I
mentioned about my late client whose relatives I cannot get in touch
with. But both of you have the same last name with you so it will be
very easy to make you become his official next of kin.
I am compelled to do this because I would not want the bank to push my
client's funds (USD$8.5m) into the bank treasury as unclaimed
inheritance..If you are interested to assist me you do let me know and
get back to me immediately through my private email address at
(barrdesmond_okolo@yahoo.es)
God Bless
Yours Sincerely,
Barrister Desmond Okolo.
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Anti-fraud resources:
