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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- 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.
- wellingtondre@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "GLOBAL SECURITY FIRM NC" <powerspace2013@126.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 18:38:47 +0800 (CST)
Subject: *** I BELIEVE THIS IS YOUR MONEY AND YOU ARE THE ONE WE ARE
LOOKING FOR ***
Hello
I am a lawyer in Imperial County, USA and I in am charged with seeking the rightful heir to certain assets which were deposited many years ago with a security company here in Imperial County by an individual who died a few years ago. We have made extensive searches to find any living heir, but had no success. Your name was mentioned in the Will and Death Testament as being the only beneficiary of these assets. We believe that you may be the person entitled and we are writing to enquire if you have any dead relatives or living friends who may have named you as a beneficiary of these assets in their will and testament. If so please let us have their names and any other information so we can check if you are
indeed the beneficiary. The amount of the assets is $250,000 USD and one large box of valuables, contents unknown.
Please reply immediately to : wellingtondre@yahoo.com
He is the owner of the aforementioned Security Company and will handle the detail.
Brian Anderson
Attorney-At-Law
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Anti-fraud resources:
