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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:
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- kelvinpeter111@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Kelvin Peterson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kelvinpeter111@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2014 14:08:58 -0500
Subject: Greeting to you
Greeting to you
How are you doing today i hope all is well with you and your family, My name is Kelvin Peterson, I work as an accountant with the united nations
here in the UNITED STATE OF AMERICA, I want to bring to your notice in respect of your compensation worth $3.5m United State Dollars funds coming
from Africa, This is to inform you that you are kindly advice not to send any money to anyone over there in Africa because your funds is presently
here in our bank here in the UNTED STATE OF AMERICA.
I will kidnly want you to please re-confirm this information and get back to me with the below details for immediate procedure.
Your Name:
Your Address:
Your country:
Your direct phone Number:
My Email: kelvinpeter111@gmail.com
Direct Phone: 3049181786
Note: I will kindly advice you to keep this letter a very confidencial one and never let out to anyone until this transfer s been completed becuase
we dont know who is next to you.
Less i forget i will also want you to kindly get back to me with the name of your next of Kin and also a scan copy of your driver License.
I hope to hear from you sonest.
Thanks and Remain Blessed
Kelvin Peterson
Representing United Nations.
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Anti-fraud resources:
