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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:
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: morgan hughes <morgan.hughes005@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 06:13:40 +0100
Subject: urgent
The Dormant Account Unit
British Bankers' Association
Pinners Hall, 105-108 Old Broad Street
London EC2N 1EX
This is trust I bestowed in you
Dear,
I have information for you about an unclaimed funds in your name laying
dormant in a bank 40million Euro in uk you will be maile an internationally
NC/ND(MOU) under the rules and regulations of ICC for our mutual benefit
and should I read you immediately with your full details will submit claims
and transfer proceedings will take place hence you respond positive to this.
It is an achievable transaction
Do get back to me for further details.
Morgan Hughes
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Anti-fraud resources:
