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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge sum of money" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Uk Bank" <info@tritonmarine.com>
Reply-To: johndouglas260@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:01:14 -0200 (BRST)
Subject: Business Proposal
Dear Friend
I sincerely ask for forgiveness; I know this may seem like a complete
intrusion to your privacy but right now this is my option of
communication. This mail might come to you as a surprise and the
temptation to ignore it as an unserious mail could come into your mind;
but please consider it as a divine wish and accept it with a deep sense of
humility.
I am aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach to starting a
relationship. I am John Douglas, a banker working in the United Kingdom,
the personal account officer to a late African politician.I am contacting
you in regards to a transfer of a Huge sum of money from a deceased
account,that was deposited in our bank here in London-United Kingdom by
this Politician from Africa who has been dead for some years.The next of
kin to this account who happens to be the only daughter was killed in a
car accident.The only person that knows that the account exit is me, but i
cannot claim the money myself since i am the account official. All i need
is for you to partner with me and come as the new next of kin to this
account and you will be adequately compensated.All required documents and
details of this transaction shall be made available to you as soon as i
receive your reply.
Thanks for your understanding, hope to hear from you soon so that we can
proceed.
Best Regards,
Mr.Douglas
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Anti-fraud resources:
