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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:
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: mastudillo@fgg.cl
Reply-To: brice.stephenjohn@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 03:38:42 -0700
Subject: Review And Respond
Hello,
I am Barr. Brice Stephen a Financial consultant and attorney to Late Mrs.Nathalia Garcia,a business tycoon holding a dual citizenship of Spain and Peru.Two (2) years ago She was killed by terrorist in Pakistan while on a business trip. Before her untimely death she informed me about a fixed deposit she made to a Financial Security Firm amounting the sum of Seven Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars [USD$7.2M] which she declared as a Family Treasure with the Financial Security Firm. All the documentations in regard to the Fixed deposit are with me as her legal adviser.
I was contacted by the Security Firm located in Europe to hereby present a next of kin/Beneficiary to have a claim to the said Fixed deposit, I want to legally present you as the next of kin to the Financial Security Firm so that you can claim the deposit and invest it in any profitable venture.We share it on a 60/40 ratio.
If you are capable of investing this fund for any profitable ventures in your country, contact me for further explanations with your Full name and Phone Number.
I wait to hear from you.
Brice Stephen
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Anti-fraud resources:
