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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 british pounds" (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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Barclays Bank <makmik@EUnet.rs>
Reply-To: peterjones003@accountant.com
Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 00:57:44 +0200
Subject: Final Notification!!!
Please be informed for the last time that you were listed as a beneficiary to
the total sum of Seven million British pounds in the codicil and last testament
of the deceased. You are qualified to be listed as a sole beneficiary and
therefore can present you as the beneficiary to the inheritance.
Kindly forward to us your letter of acceptance; your current telephone and a
forwarding address to enable us file necessary documents at our high court
probate division for the release of this sum of money to you as the sole
beneficiary.
Yours Faithfully,
Peter Jones
Personal Manager,
Barclays Bank.
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Anti-fraud resources:
