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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Habib Ali <mrhabibl15@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 14:04:33 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Your Urgent Assistance Is Needed Please
Your Urgent Assistance Is Needed Please
Dear Friend,
Greetings and compliments of the season? I am writing to seek your cooperation over this business, please due welcome this letter as it may come to you as a Surprise.
I Am Mr.Habib Ali) The Manager Foreign Remittance dept at. (B.O.A.) Bank of Africa Ouagadougou-west Africa Here in Burkina Faso . I Need Your Urgent Assistance In Transferring The Sum Of ($8.2) Million To Your Account. I decided to contact you on this business transaction that will be beneficial to both of us. And I hope that you will not expose
This abandoned sum of money belongs to one of our foreign customer who died without any nomination of the next of kin to the bank, and Has Been Dormant for Years in Our Bank without Claim. Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin to come over and claim his money because we cannot release it unless somebody applies for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking policies but unfortunately for years now non of his relations has applied for the claim.
I want the bank to release the money to you as the nearest person to our. Deceased customer, upon your reply. I will send to you my telephone number and details on how the business will be executed
I am waiting for your urgent response!!!
Have a nice day
Mr.Habib Ali.
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Anti-fraud resources:
