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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "accredited attorney" (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.
- 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.
- peoples.chambers@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: IMF OFFICE UK <contact_file100@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2014 11:22:03 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Payment update
Dear beneficiary
I’m Mr.John Eric the fiduciary agent, I have been instructed by the African Investment Bank to remind you of your overdue fund amounting $28Million USD in African Investment Bank since 2010. Have you forgotten the fund? It baffles me why you should abandon such huge amount of money in African Bank since 2010.
Here is the contact information of the bank accredited attorney, act fast and contact the lawyer for further directives on what you should do to enable the bank commence work on your fund transfer. attorney's email: ( peoples.chambers@yahoo.fr )
This matter require urgent attention and you must follow it urgently to avoid confiscating your fund, because if you fail to act fast now, the bank will confiscate your fund.
Your urgent response is highly needed.
Mr.John Eric.
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Anti-fraud resources:
