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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 british 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
- +447053843865 (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.
- robertsjames724@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: NEW ORDER <wilburdaniels987@gmail.com>
Reply-To: roberts_james54@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2014 03:45:08 -0700
Subject: REPLY NOW
--
Dear Partner,
I write to request your co-operation in my desire to find a foreign
partner who will assist me in relocating and investing of the sum of
(15,000,000.00) Fifteen million British Pounds Sterling's which
is presently available in my bank and in my possession. I am the
Executive Auditor in my Bank here in UK and this money was deposited
by my Deceased Customer who died in an Air Crash many years ago, and
no body has operated or knew about this fund. I have all the files
concerning this fund with me because I was the Account Manager of the
Deceased the owner of the fund. The owner of the money is "Mr. Ed
Swingle" who died on 4th Jan 2002 with his entire Family In a plane
crash in Birmingham ; you can view this CNN or BBC website for his
true details.
http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/01/04/england.plane/
I will be glad if you can stand as beneficiary to receive this money
in your country as this fund can only be paid to any foreigner who
lives outside UK . And i would invest my share in your Country. I am
offering you 40% of total sum after the transfer while 60% will be my
share. And you should call me for more oral briefing with this number
+447053843865 . The entire plan and documents of this transaction
will be processed by a Government accredited Lawyer which will be
handled by me and the documents shall be forwarded to you during the
process. I also want to assure you that this business is % 100 free
from risk. You can as well enclose your direct telephone numbers for
discussion of this offer in further details. Let me have your Full
Name, Confidential Telephone, Fax and Mobile Numbers and also your
Contact Address in response to this proposal if you are interested.
Send your reply through my private robertsjames724@yahoo.com.ph
Best Regards
Mr. James Roberts
Mobile Tell: +447053843865
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Anti-fraud resources:
