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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:
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- bjimhuck@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Leonard Williams" <officefile688@gmail.com>
Reply-To: bjimhuck@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2014 22:30:40 -0700
Subject: GOOD MORNING MY DEAR; PLEASE CONTACT BARRISTER JIM HUCK E-MAIL FOR
YOUR ATM MASTER CARD, AND PROVIDE YOUR FULL DETAILS OF ADDRESS:
Urgent Attention,
This is to official inform you of your compensation payment valued sum
of US$35.5 Million United State Dollars which has deposited to
converted it into an ATM VISA Card on your behalf and deliver to you.
Now all you need to do is to contact (Dir: Barrister Jim Huck)ATM card
center today for their immediate action towards the processing of your
ATM VISA CARD. Kindly be advice to contact him today with your full
information for your ATM Card Processing and delivery.
PROVIDE YOUR FULL DETAILS OF ADDRESS:
YOUR NAME_____________
YOUR HOME ADDRESS_____
YOUR COUNTY/CITY______
YOUR AGE/SEX__________
DIRECT PHONE NUMBER___
YOUR ID COPY__________
YOUR OCCUPATION_______
Please try to explain to him very well of this information and told
and ask him what else you have to do to receive your card OK.
contact Barrister Jim Huck
E-MAIL: bjimhuck@yahoo.com.hk
Call +22999426095
Best Regards, Mr. Leonard Williams!
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