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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447011148752 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: Daniel Benson <danielbenson2000@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 08:42:14 -0800
Subject: Dear Sir/Madam
Dear Sir/Madam
My name is Mr Daniel Benson. I work with one of the leading Banks here
in London, UK. I would need your consent to present you as the next of
kin to our late customer Mr Howard Kim, who died of heart attack in
2009. He was a wealthy business man who deposited the Fifteen Million
Pounds Sterling in our Bank. He died without any registered next of
kin as he was long divorced and had no child.
I was his account officer and have in my possession all the documents
required to present you as his beneficiary next of kin. We can work
together to claim this fund. Please listen, this is real and goes on
in Banks all over the world without people knowing. Let us utilize
this opportunity because it does not come always. A lot of customers
open private accounts with different Banks without the knowledge of
their families and when they die, such money will be lost to the Bank
unless someone comes to claim it. This is how a lot of Bank Directors
make so much money silently.
On your confirmation of this message and indicating your interest, I
will furnish you with more details. Please endeavor to provide me with
the following so that we can discuss in details
1)mobile phone numbers
2)full name
3)contact address and occupation
I urgently hope to get your response as soon as possible.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr Daniel Benson
Tel: +447011148752
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Anti-fraud resources:
