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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:
- "greater london" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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: "Mr. Rutt Henk Bernard" <desirel2020@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ruttbernard11@outlook.com
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2017 04:49:43 -0800
Subject: Your speed responses required
I am Rutt Bernard from Brondesbury,North West London, I work for
NATWEST BANK London branch. "I am writing to you from my office with
an opportunity that will benefit us both immensely" In my department,
being a member of the Group Executive Committee and Chief Risk Officer
(Greater London Regional Office), I discovered an abandoned sum of £15
Million Great British Pounds Sterling (Fifteen Million Great British
Pounds) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers
Late Mr. Steve Jackson.
All I require now is your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality and
Trust to enable us sees this transaction through. I guarantee you that
this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect
you from any breach of the law. Please provide me the following if you
are interested: as we have few days to run it through this is very
URGENT PLEASE.
1. Full Name. 2 Your Direct Mobile Number 3. You’re Contact Address 4.
Date of Birth.
Best Regards
Rutt Bernard
Phone: +447418551535
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Anti-fraud resources:
