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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:
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- +447086466453 (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.
- ttadams1971@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: TONY ADAMS <info@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ttadams1971@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 11:44:19 +0100
Subject: Attention
--
Dear Prospective Partner,
Greetings to you and your family and I hope this letter meets you in
good health. My name is Tony Adams, a freelance independent investment
broker in London. Previously I was consulted by an erstwhile top-ranking
member of a front line liberation movement in Liberia, whose
organization had engaged the Liberian government in a protracted civil
war since 1985. My client now wishes to channel his funds into a
productive or real estate ventures business instead of war. He intends
to make this investment discreetly and under discretionary asset
management arrangement and I am seeking for a very reliable and honest
person who will be capable to handle the project.
I have contacted you on the consideration that we could discuss the
possibility of my client placing his money with you for management,
either in your existing establishment or other venture to be undertaken
at your discretion under terms to be agreed upon. However, he prefers
that this investment be made in your country and I will be expecting
your response in order to discuss further in details.
Respond directly to me on my contact details below:
NAME: Tony Adams
PHONE: +44- 708- 646- 6453
EMAIL: ttadams1971@gmail.com
Sincerely Yours,
Tony Adams
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Anti-fraud resources:
