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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)
- "million dollars" (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 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.
- akuandrew010@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: AKU KENNEDY <akuandrew010@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2014 15:54:11 +0000
Subject: Dear friend
Dear friend
My name is Andrew Aku attorney, lawyer in law.I have an important message
for you concerning the death of Mr.B, who was my client is a citizen of
your country, which bear the same surname with you, and his fund is
estimated at $ 17.5 million dollars was left in a bank here in my country
(Togo) as a result of the accident that took his life and his
family.Contact me (akuandrew010@gmail.com) For more information and how to
proceed.I waiting for your urgent personal response.Kindly forward: -
E-mail address and telephone number.
Best Regards,
Aku Andrew (Esq
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Anti-fraud resources:
