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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- 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.
- chandlerben6@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ben Chandler" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chandlerben6@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2015 04:14:25 -0700
Subject: INVESTMENT INITIATIVE!
Dear Friend,
I send you greetings and sorry to encroach into your privacy in this manner.
I am a seasoned Asset Manager, I am brokering an Investment deal in your country on behalf of a client. This deal will
involve the eventual investment of US$52M. (Fifty Two Million Dollars) in your country.
I am by this letter offering you our partnership, so as to allow us have you as representative and manager of invested
funds in your Country within the time frame of the investment/partnership scheme.
Since I cannot determine if this email is still functional and also your willingness, I have decided to kept this proposal
brief.If you are Interested in this offer of partnership, please respond with your full contact details plus company profile, and
in response I will send you an elaborate proposal and details of this offer.
Your expedient response will be appreciated through this alternative email address: chandlerben6@gmail.com which I have
purposely set up for this transaction and accessible to me only and no one else.
Thank you.
Ben Chandler
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Anti-fraud resources:
