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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:
- "million us 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)
- "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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Amadou Kebbi" <dramadoukebbi22@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2012 12:48:37 +0000
Subject: Hello..!!
Greeting to You,Urgent Assistance Needed.
I work with a bank In West Africa,Burkina faso,I have a business
transaction for you.In my department we discovered an abandoned sum of
$10.5 Million US Dollars.In an account that belongs to one of our
foreign customer who died along with his entire family in plane crash.
Since his supposed next of kin died along side with him, there is
nobody to claim the left over balance in the account.It is therefore
upon this discovery that I and other officials in my department
decided to seek your assistance and present you to the bank as his
Next of kin or business associate.
If you accept i would give you the guide lines of how we can achieve
this transfer of the balance (10.5 Million Dollars) to your
account.and we will share the money 50-50%.Get back to me if you are
financially capable of handling this transaction and assist me.furnish
me the below information.for more details.
Your full name….
Your age and sex…
Your country......
Your Cell phone number..
Your Occupation....
Best Regards
Dr.Amadou Kebbi
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Anti-fraud resources:
