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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:
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Andree Nielsen <shalombernanke@gmail.com>
Reply-To: barr.andreenielsenlaw@aol.com
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2021 06:00:29 +0800
Subject: Good Day
Good Day
My name is Barr. Andree Nielsen, the principal attorney Andree Nielsen
& Associate Law Office UK. I am contacting you because of my deceased
client who died leaving some funds with a bank in London. I want to
announce you as an heir/beneficiary to the fund.
I would like to let you know the bank has requested my late clients
next of kin, I have done all i could to reach the family for three
years. The bank issued a notice to provide the next of kin or the fund
will be confiscated. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the
relatives.
God knows i have tried we can use the money to better our both
families and help the poor and needy around us other than the bank
getting hold of the money.
The bank would proceed and release once i present you as the next of
kin. let me know your readiness for more details.
Best Regards,
Barr. Andree Nielsen
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Anti-fraud resources:
