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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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms Evelyn Ukeje" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <evelynukeje@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2014 22:14:12 +0100
Subject: INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR FUND.
Attention,
We are an Independent Legal Firm attached to the Office of the Presidency. Our services are
in need in matters concerning payment. Your name appeared in one of the weekly payment
schedule Newsletters from the Presidency and that is how we got to know about your
payment and all the things you have gone through.
It is true that there has been a lot of Litigation FOR and AGAINST your Payment.
Some Top Government Officials want to frustrate your effort by imposing unnecessary fees
and charges, their plan is for you to leave your funds so that they will come back
and claim the funds. In Telegraphic Transfer what the APEX BANK does is to deduct all charges
and remit the balance. You are not going to pay any fees or charges/No upfront payment. All we
need from you is a POWER OF ATTORNEY to empower us to help you collect your Contractual Payment. We are prepared to be your representative here and are ready to step on toes just to make sure that you receive your funds.
Our retaining/Professional fees are cheap and Negotiable and can be paid after you must have received your Payment. Our word is our bond. Contact us immediately through the aboveemail if you want to engage our services.
Yours Faithfully,
Barr. Ms Evelyn Ukeje.
Principal Attorney
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Anti-fraud resources:
