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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "consignment " (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)
- "very 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)
- 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.
- +447045777208 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: Franklin Potter <franklinpotter1.fw@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 16:21:55 +0200
Subject: Kindly reply this mail.
Dear friend,
Kindly allow me to disclose this very confidential and sincere truth
without you becoming cynical about it because of the mounting
concerns regarding the various fraudulent business propositions flying
across the internet.
The former Libyan oil minister ,Mr Shukri Ghanem who defected from
Muammar Gaddafi's regime to support the rebels and later confirmed
dead in Vienna had before his untimely death which resulted from
the Libyan crises deposited two boxes at Prudential Insurance & Assets
Management company, London where i work as the record and risks
management officer.
Visit: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/30/gaddafi-oil-minister-shukri-ghanam-dead.
Mr Name is Mr Franklin Potter and a staff of the above company.
The two deposited boxes were declared in the records of my company
as personal effects but since his death was unexpected and sudden
which never gave him the opportunity of meeting his second
appointment with my company to conclude the necessary documentary
requirements concerning the deposited boxes.
As at the time he made the deposits, i was the officer in charge of
receiving and inspecting all assets deposits in my company and this
provided me the opportunity and access to uncover the concealed sum
of $32M alongside other expensive personal effects.
I am urgently seeking your assistance to claim these deposited boxes
and the concealed currencies with enclosed expensive items which he
left inside this boxes.
Do not waste time to get back to me and i will use my official
position to put the required records straight in your favor to ensure
that my company delivers this consignment to you as the owner. The
sharing ratio will be 50/50 %.
I need the followings information from you thus : (a)Personal
information including your direct telephone number (b) Your personal
identification to enable me submit the claim application on your
behalf to my company.
Thank you very much.
Mr Franklin Potter
Prudential Insurance & Assets Management.
London. united kingdom.
Tel.+44 704 577 7208.
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