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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.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "please indicate your willingness" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "foreign remittance department" (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 next of kin scam.
- 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.
- nelrobert012@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Nelson Robert <mariechristine.kinikini@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Nelson Robert <nelrobert012@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 15:05:40 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Greetings
Greetings,
I am Mr Nelson Robert. I am contacting you in regards to a business transfer of a huge sum of money from my bank. I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make anyone apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end. I decided to contact you due to the fact that you share similar name with the deceased client.
I am an account Auditor with the management of Bank Of Africa (BOA), and currently holding the post of bill and exchange manager at the foreign remittance department of my Bank. I have the opportunity to meet unclaimed funds (USD$21.300M) that belongs to one of our deceased customer who made a number of months deposit before his untimely death.
Hence; I am inviting you for a business deal and this money can be shared between us at the rate of 50% shares respectively if you agree to my business proposal. Further details of the transfer will be forwarded to you as soon as I receive your urgent mail confirming your willingness.
Please indicate your willingness by contacting me immediately through my private email [nelrobert012@gmail.com]
I am waiting to hear from you if you are interested. Remember to contact through my private email address (nelrobert012@gmail.com)
Thanks,
Mr Nelson Robert
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Anti-fraud resources:
