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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- 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.
- jamesmikess@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Des Harrison <dsharrison17@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <jamesmikess@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 02:28:05 -0700
Subject: THANK'S FOR YOUR EFFORT!
Dear Friend,
I'm happy to inform you about my success in
globetrotting the funds transferred to a Swiss Bank account with the
co-operation of a new partner from England who is an international business
man. I'm presently in England for investment projects with my own share of the
total sum. Meanwhile, I did not forget your past effort and attempt in
assisting me transfer those funds despite that it failed us somehow - that is
why I decided to compensate you.
Now Contact My Secretary, his Contact
detail is:
Name: James Mike
Email: jamesmikess@aol.com
Phone: +27-849776942
I have decided to compensate you with an
ideal sum, which I kept for your compensation for all the past effort and
attempt in assisting me in this matter. I appreciated your effort at that time
very much. So feel free and get in touch with my secretary James Mike and
instruct Him on where to send the sum to you. Please do let me know immediately
you receive it so that we can share the joy after all the sufferings at that
time.
In the moment, I am very busy here because
of the investment projects which I and the new partner are having at hand.
Regards,
Dr. Des Harrison
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Anti-fraud resources:
