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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:
- "money gram" (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. )
- "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 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.
- bkchambers74@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. George .F Moore" <user@noteworthymedical.com>
Reply-To: <bkchambers74@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 03:17:37 +0100
Subject: Barrister BRADLY KIMBERLY IS WAITING!!!
Attn.
I am Mr. George .F. Moore (World Bank Auditor) I went as directed by the World Bank to make your funds US$15.5 million transfer to your banks account provided below within 4 hours. And this account below was provided by your Sister Mrs.Sarah Rapson. based on the ground that you sent him as your next of kin and the I.D she provided are still in our care if you need to verify.
JP Morgan Chase Bank
Bank Address:270 Park Avenue
New York, NY
(347)708-1461
NAME ON ACCOUNT: Mrs.Sarah Rapson.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 1173428747
ROUTING NUMBER: 099000319 7
We need confirmation from you to proceed with the wire transfer fees of US$185 only via money gram today.Remember all fund must be claimed not later than (15th november, 2014). After this date, all funds will be returned to the world bank as unclaimed.
Call Barrister BRADLY KIMBERLY. as soon as you have gone through this email its very urgent in the next 24 hours to rectify your bank account details.
African payment officer:
Barrister BRADLY KIMBERLY
Email: bkchambers74@gmail.com
Direct line:+234818177895
Regards,
George .F Moore
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Anti-fraud resources:
