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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "30% for you " (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)
- "keep this confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- anjangmohamed@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Donald Robson <rs234687@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 01:44:04 +0800
Subject: URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL.
Attention friend,
I know this letter will come to you as a surprise.
INTRODUCTION:
I am Mr. Anjang Mohamed a nationality of Malaysia, I work as the Bill &
Exchange manager in one of the reputable bank’s here in Malaysia. I was
caught by your profile which leads to my confidence in you in briefing you
with a reliable business profit which I shall need your prompt partnership
to succeed.
PROPOSITION:
The sum of US$ 10.6 million was discovered in our bank by my good office
during our last auditing, the abandoned fund from investigation carried out
by my office belong to a Taiwan oil Merchant who lost his life with his
supposed family in an auto crash in the year 2004. Since then the fund has
been in a dormant account unclaimed. Our finance banking law states that
once a fund is in a dormant state for over a period of 8 years unclaimed by
the beneficiary or his family, such fund should be returned to the
government treasury as unclaimed bills.
Upon my discovery and my esteemed position, I will need your foreign
assistance to claim out this fund for mutual sharing between you and I at
the ratio of 30% for you 10% will reimburse any unforeseen expenses in the
course of the claim the remaining 60% shall be for me which shall be
probably invested in a lucrative business venture in your country under
your kind control. Further details will be given to you on your response to
me while I demand you keep this confidential for security reasons. Reply me
immediately on my private email only as bracketed (anjangmohamed@yahoo.com
<https://fr-mg42.mail.yahoo.com/neo/b/compose?to=anjangmohamed@yahoo.com>).
Note that all neat underground work to move the funds to you has been
completed. It will be important at the time of your reply that you send
your private phone number for easy communication.
Looking forward hearing from you as the urgency demands.
Sincerely
Mr. Anjang Mohamed.
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Anti-fraud resources:
