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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "chambers" (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.
- 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: "Paul Fitzgerald" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <b9cicb@macr2.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2019 21:24:24 +0100
Subject: FYI BENEFICIARY
Attn:
I am Paul Fitzgerald QC of L Chambers and my legal services were
retained
by late Henry Bruce, who made you a beneficiary to the bequest sum of
GBP5,500,000.00 in the codicil to his will and last testament.
We are perfecting arrangements to complete the transfer of this
inheritance
to you and You are required to forward the following details of yours
such
as your
Full Names:
Address:
Occupation:
Age and Phone number:
For verification and re-confirmation at the Probate Division of Her
Majesty's Crown Court. Contact me back with below email
(b9cicb@macr2.com)
Regards
Atty. Paul Fitzgerald Esq.,
AMD Solicitors 100 Henleaze Road,
Henleaze Bristol
United Kingdom
Tell: +447537129985
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Anti-fraud resources:
