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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:
- "dear friend" (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: "Fred Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ffwlaws@lawyer.com>
Date: Wed, 1 May 2019 00:02:53 -0000
Subject: Re;Urgent Business Proposal
Dear Friend,
I am Fred Williams of Fred Williams & Co In the United Kingdom. I have before me a business Proposal that might be of help for both of us for business Investment purpose. A client of mine deposited the Sum of $750M with Prosegur Private Security Company in Lyon, France but It's sad that he died along with his wife in a Plane crash while on vacation in Thailand back in Year 2007. Look up the Incident here for your confident (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7000155.stm )
I have recently been advised by Prosegur Private Security Company to produce an Authorised claim person / Next of kin for the money because it was recently identify as a Ghost owner. In-order not to declared the funds to the French Government. I plan to introduce you to Prosegur Private Security Company as the Authorised claim person / Next of kin to my deceased client.
Below are my terms & conditions.
1) The Money will be initiated to you via any preferred form of collection of your choice.
2) 40% will be yours after you are in possession of the money.
3) 20% will go to the Charity organization of prefered choice
4) 40% will be wired to the preferred account presented to you by me.
If you agree with the mentioned above conditions reply back so I can e mail you step by step process details for a successful retrieval of the deposited funds. I'm the signatory of my deceased client as at the time the money was deposited to Prosegur Private Security Company in Lyon, France, papers are in place so no HASSLE!!!
Fred Williams
M: +447926126043
London-UK
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Anti-fraud resources:
