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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Marcel FERNAND <marcfernand4@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2014 02:27:44 -0700
Subject: Greeting
Dear Sir,
My purpose of contacting you is to assist me in transferring the sum
of $13, 580, 000.Thirteen million five hundred eighty thousand United
States dollars) my late client deposited in CENTRAL BANK OF WEST
AFRICAN STATES Lome-Togo.
In brief my name is Barrister Marcel Fernand a private legal
practitioner married with three children two girls and one boy. I have
my corporate office at 16 Rue Dé Eglise, Lome Togo while my hotline
number is +228-90715121.
Very unfortunately that my late client died in a motor accident with
his wife and only child without leaving anybody to inherit the
$13,580, 000.Thirteen million five hundred eighty thousand United
States dollars)he deposited with the CENTRAL BANK OF WEST AFRICAN
STATES
Sequel to the fact the deceased was client for over fifteen years the
inheritance policy of Togo gave me the authority to appoint somebody
as the beneficiary of the fund or else the bank will revert the fund
into the escrow account.
I contacted you due to the common fact that it is my legal right to do
so and despite that you bear the same surname with my late client so
for this reason I need your urgent cooperation to transfer the fund
into your account for our mutual sharing instead of losing the fund to
the bank as unclaimed money where it will be shared by the board of
directors of the bank.
I am here to direct you in what to do to enhance the smooth transfer
of the fund into your account.
Fill the data below and quickly send to me in order to submit it to
the bank on your behalf as the next of kin of the fund.
1.Your full name---------
2.Your full contact address-----
3.Name of your country-----
4.Your occupation------
5.Your telephone number------
6.Photocopy of your passport or identity card
I am looking forward to your quick reply and phone call.
Marcel Fernand Esq.
Lome-Togo
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