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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "stamp duty" (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 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.
- 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.
- markandersonlawyer4@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Barrister Mark Anderson" <chrisdavid267@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2017 15:53:26 -0500
Subject: Attention Dear Beneficiary, contact the lawyer now
The CBN management just called me that you have not come up with the claim
of your fund since a long time till now . so please i just want to let
you know that some other people are coming for the claim of your fund
on your behalf try and make sure you contact me back as the only
lawyer that CBN is working with so that i can go and talk with them
and get your fund released on your be half before the next 48hrs from
now i am urgently waiting for your reply back to me or you can call me
on my cell phone number as i am waiting to conclude the release of
your fund meetings with them before the end of today . so make sure
you reply me back and i will let you know the cost of the transfer
international stamp duty that is the only fee you are to care,
So contact me on my personal cell phone number + 234-80532-68554.
or personal Email id; markandersonlawyer4@gmail.com
(markandersonlawyer4@gmail.com)
call me or email me and work with me urgently to have your for the
claim of your unclaimed funds in our office .
Thank you ,
Barrister Mark Anderson
+234 8136773884
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Anti-fraud resources:
