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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.
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <hassan.christer@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 1 Jul 2013 16:50:29 +0200
Subject: Confidential Respond
I am a Secret Wealth manager to a deceased politician who died four years ago, He left huge sum which I managed for him and
he was from your country. Since his dealth I have not received any claims from any relative or any body. I am willing to do a sincere business with you if only you can stand as a beneficiary.
I need to have this funds transfered out of the Wealth Account to you if only you can act as his next of kin. I have all legal documents to back you up and also to protect you from any breach of law.
Note that you will be entitled to 40% of this funds while 60% will be for me. I will let you know how much we are talking about when I receive the required information below from you.
1) Your full names and address
2) Your contact telephone number
3) Your age and occupation
Regards,
H.S Christer.
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Anti-fraud resources:
