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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:
- "million dollars" (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: "RHB Bank" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rohafundstransfer@accountant.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:54:28 +0800
Subject: Confidential- Get back to me Imediately
Good Day,
My name is Richard wei feng I am the General Manager of RHB Bank of
Malaysia Kuala Lumpur branch. I got your information when I was searching
for an oversea partner among other names. I write you this proposal in
good faith.
I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and me, I
have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my
late client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank
where this deposit valued at (USd$12million dollars)
is lodged, Whcih the account have been dormant since 2010.
Brown Ty: My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the
next-of-kin/relation and beneficiary of my client, so that the proceeds of this account
can be transferred to you. Then i can come over to your country so that we
can
share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage 50/50. All legal
documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be
provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this
transaction through.
Kindly get back to me to enable us move forward.
Best regards,
Richard wei feng
RHB Bank
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Anti-fraud resources:
