|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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:
- "good day friend" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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 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.
- barristerevans25@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: EVANS THOMAS <jeffjude899@gmail.com>
Reply-To: barristerevans25@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2022 08:34:21 -0800
Subject: GOOD DAY
Good Day Friend,
This is my second letter to you; once again my name is Barrister
Evans Thomas. I wish to know if we can work together, because you
share the same Surname with my deceased client.
I would like you to stand as the Next of Kin to my deceased client who made
some
deposit sum of money in USD Millions, in a reputable Financial Institution
here
in Africa before his death.
We will discuss what you stand to benefit if you are interested in
working with me.
Kindly respond to this email if okay by you ( barristerevans25@gmail.com ).
Have a great day.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
