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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:
- "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.)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Limm Sothimm < Sothimm.@topaz.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Limm Sothimm <barristerlimmsothimm@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 14 May 2018 19:36:42 +0900 (JST)
Subject: I have been mandated to ask what the cause of the delay is about
your
ATTENTION: I have been mandated to ask what the cause of the delay is about your
non-response back to this office concerning the remittance of your funds
to you. This office is under pressure from Mr.Jeffrey White the man who went
claims that you are dead and that you made him your Beneficiary and next
of kin so all your total fund of $5.5 million united state dollars should be given to him .
We are very confused at this stage of this transaction because we heard
from you and the next thing was silence which looks very suspicious as if
you were not the one and truly dead as this gentle man claims
Best Regard
Barrister Limm Sothimm,
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Anti-fraud resources:
