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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:
- "bank charges " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- +447045721208 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Charles Stanley" <charlesstanley00010@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2011 01:40:50 +0300
Subject: Regarding the Graham Robert Trust Fund
Regarding the Graham Robert Trust Fund:
This is in regard to my earlier email to you on Monday regarding the Graham
Robert trust fund currently pending claims with the transferring bank; I am
writing to inform you of the need to comply with the seven days notice as
was informed in my earlier email to you.
The reason is that the British High court has warned that failure to comply
with the transferring bank directives latest 1st of July 2011; you will
forfeit your funds to their office since they were also included in the will
and it will be on ground of incompetence on your part.
We urge you at this point to try your utmost best to transfer the funds to
your account latest 1st day of July 2011. I on my own part have spent a lot
to ensure that Graham made it alive, but to no avail as a result my current
financial status. It will amaze you to note that I spent more than (20,000
GBP) to keep Graham alive. At this point I don’t have any more money
otherwise I would have long paid what the bank requires from you. I still
think you should have a second thought and proceed with the payment as
instructed since it’s very obvious that without the payment, the said fund
will never be transferred to your account. It is on this note I advise that
you pay the bank charges as soon as possible to enable the bank to
immediately commence the transfer of the funds to your account via swift
online bank transfer. It was the desire of Graham Robert that the charity
work commences without further delay.
I await your swift response to this email soon.
Have a nice day
Charles Stanley
+447045721208
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Anti-fraud resources:
