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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:
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "dormant 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.
- laurencepalmer57@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Laurance palmer" <risha.angui@aol.com>
Reply-To: laurencepalmer57@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 05:42:31 -0700
Subject: We can do this business together.
Attn,
My name is Laurence Palmer, a banker at STB SA. I have arranged with a Diplomat to deliver the amount of $55 Million currently in a dormant account in our bank Standard Bank SA Ltd.
The cost of delivery from SA to USA will be covered from my end. All i need is a trustworthy person whom can help me invest my share of the funds.
For your assistance, i will give you 40% of the funds.
Respond by email: laurencepalmer57@yahoo.com <mailto:laurencepalmer57@yahoo.com>
Mr. Laurence Palmer
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Anti-fraud resources:
