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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:
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- 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 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.
- john_franklin51@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: DR Richard Phillip <gazza11@alice.it>
Reply-To: john_franklin51@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2017 10:44:25 +0100 (CET)
Subject: THE TRUTH HOW YOU WILL RECEIVED YOUR ATM CARD IN AFRICA
How are you doing I hope all is well I am the director of DHL in Benin Republic
I know how you will received all your fund in Africa the fund origin is Benin
this fund is scam victim compensation fund from international monitory fund in
Africa forget about the delivery fee I will pay it for you I know that once you
received your fund you will compensate me I will tell you the truth about this
fund the truth is that all the document of your fund need to be obtain and sing
from federal high court of justice in Benin Republic if you believe me you will
received your fund worth $5.5 million united state dollars the lawyer name is
Barrister DR John Franklin Contact him via this email ID :
john_franklin51@hotmail.com so that he will help you get all the needed
document of your fund stop dealing with scammer in Africa please all I need in
this transaction is truth and trust I know that once you received your fund you
will compensate me look forward to hear from you once you contact him
Here is my number (603) 486-0856 SMS or you call me
Best Regards
DR Richard Phillip
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Anti-fraud resources:
