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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:
- "keep this confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "George Adams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <donsipo1@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:32:59 -0700
Subject: Re: Joint Partnership
Dear Sir,
I am Mr. George Adams I am in charge of computer analysis with central bank of Nigeria. Sir please promise me that you can keep this confidential.
I have the sum of US12.5m which I discovered in the course of my work as the computer analyst of central bank of Nigeria, the money has been idle for the past 8 years due to the fact the expatriate (crude oil
merchant) that deposited the money died in road accident and left no next of kin.
I want to present you as the next of kin and enter your details in the system as the next of kin; I will also support this with vital documents so that we can share the funds 50/50.
Sir this deal will not last more than 5 working days from the day you send your banking coordinates. I will personally secure all the documents needed and also enter it in the system which I am in charge.
I will like to have your responds and also your direct telephone number so that we can proceed and finish before Friday this week.
God be with you.
George Adams.
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Anti-fraud resources:
