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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:
- "keep it confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- yatoalberto@inbox.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Snr.Alberto Yato." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <yatoalberto@inbox.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 13:34:12 +0100
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL
Enquiry.
I am a consultant with one of the leading banks here in Spain. I
conducted a standard process audit involving a client who
died intestate.The Bank Private Banking client died
and with a deposit of Seventeen Million,Five Hundred Thousand USD
Only ($17,500.000.00).
1-Are you aware of any relative that is having one of his names same
with yours,and last known contact address was Madrid Spain, or Can you
keep it confidential if by updating the relevant documents you are
made the next of kin so that the deposited funds can be claimed for
our mutual benefits.
Utmost confidentiality is required.
Please reply: Yatoalberto@inbox.com
Snr.Alberto Yato.
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Anti-fraud resources:
