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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- barris_peterkenlaw@consultant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: OFFICE DOCUMENT <offdocumen4@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <barrispeterkenlaw2@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 11:56:04 +0000
Subject: Inheritance WILL Reply!!
Barrister Peter Ken,
P Ken LAW FIRM,
Lagos Nigeria.
Notification of your inheritance WILL to you by our late deceased.
Get back to me immediately for necessary steps concerning your inheritance, Sequel to your non reply of my earlier emails to you on behalf of the Trustees and Executors to the WILL of your deceased as your the next of kin to him.
I wish to notify you that your Email address appeared in the codicil and last statement of the deceased and you are entitled to his U$5.3 Million Dollars. I will advise you about the steps on how to redeem your inheritance funds from the bank. Reply immediately because the bank is waiting for you to show up and claim the funds as they have mandate me to provide the next of kin to the fund.
My Private Office Email (barris_peterkenlaw@consultant.com)
The deceased has worked with Honeywell Oil And Gas Limited here in Nigeria for 13 year's as chief engineer he died by cancer of lungs on 5th Feb 2012 by 9:20 AM.
Yours Faithfully,
Barrister Peter Ken,
P Ken LAW FIRM.
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Anti-fraud resources:
