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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)
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand us 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 next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: DR SMITH KOJO <infoassist2000sci@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 16:51:24 +0000
Subject: Dear friend
Dear friend
My name is Smith Kojo like you already know . I work with one of the
leading eco Banks here in Repubilic of ivory coast . I would need your
consent to present you as the next ofkin to our late customer who died of
heart attack in 2009. he was awealthy business man who deposited ten
million five hundred thousand Us dollars in our Bank. he diedwithout any
registered next of kin as he was long divorced and had no child.
I was his account officer and have in my possession all the documents
required to present you as his beneficiary next of kin. I contacted
you because you have same name identity with our late client and can
perfectly fit in as next of kin, We can work together to claim this
fund. Please listen, this is real and goes on in Banks all over the world
without people knowing.
Let us utilize this opportunity because
it does not come always and i have seen if i can trust any one is you.
A lot of customers open private accounts with
different Banks without the knowledge of their families and when they
die, such money will be lost to the Bank unless someone comes to claim it.
This is how a lot of Bank Directors make so much money silently.
On your confirmation of this message and indicating your interest, Iwill
furnish you with more details.
Please endeavor to provide me with
the following so that we can discuss in details
1)mobile phone numbers
2)full name
3)contact address and occupation
I urgently hope to get your response as soon as possible.
Yours Sincerely,
Smith kojo
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Anti-fraud resources:
