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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- 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.
- martinezpaco625@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- paco martinez email: martinezpaco625@gmail.com message body: i am a solicitor at law. i am the personal attorney to the late mrs. (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: WordPress <webmaster@certifiedprofessionalchildproofers.org> (may be fake)
Reply-To: Paco Martinez <martinezpaco625@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2022 23:35:14 +0000
Subject: Contact Form Submission
From: Paco Martinez
Email: martinezpaco625@gmail.com
Message Body:
I am a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to the late Mrs. Anna who used to work with Shell - development company . Hereafter shall be referred to as my client.
On the 29th December 2009, my client, his husband and their three children were involved in a car accident. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.
The finance company where the deceased had an account valued at about 9.5 million euros has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days.
Sincerely,
Barrister Paco Martinez (Esq)
Tel/Fax: 0034-604-197-938
Reply To: Pacomartinezconsultant@gmail.com
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This e-mail was sent from a contact form on Certified Professional Childproofers
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Anti-fraud resources:
