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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:
- 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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Helen Giamma <helen_giamma1@mail.ru>
Reply-To: Mrs Helen Giamma <benardwilliams10@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2015 00:57:40 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Contact Person:Barrister Mr Bernard Smith Williams
My Dearest Friend,
I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting that fund. Now, I want you to contact my Barrister on the information below: Name: Barrister Mr Bernard Smith Williams,Ask him to send you the total sum of (USD$5.5 Million), in western Union,which I kept for you for your compensation.
So Now contact him immediately on his information bellow
Contact Person:Barrister Mr Bernard Smith Williams
Phone:Mobile:+229 99936911.Call him in this number for the faster of this transfer your western Union.
and send him the below needed information to enable him transfer your western Union to you without any problem.
1 Full Name...
2 Your Home address and picture.
3 Your Current telephone number.
4 Your Age .
5 Your Country.
6 Your Occupation..
As soon as you receive this mail message. Please try to call the Barrister Mr Bernard Smith Williams immediately to know when your western Union could be transfer to you.i wait for your update as soon as you have received your transfer,
Thank and God bless you. I am waiting for your urgent response.
Mrs Helen Giamma
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Anti-fraud resources:
