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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:
- 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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "wilsonbenson@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Wilson Benson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wilsonbenson@qq.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2015 13:40:38 -0800
Subject: CLAIM
Dear friend
My name is Wilson Benson. I work with one of the leading
Banks here in London, UK. I would need your consent to present you as the
next of kin to our late customer who died of heart attack in 2009.
He was a wealthy business man who deposited a huge amount in our
Bank. He died without 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 endeavor to provide me with your full
name, telephone, contact address so that i can give you more details.
NB:ENSURE TO RESPOND TO MY PRIVATE EMAIL wilsonbenson@qq.com WITH REQUIRED DETAILS IF WILLING
Yours Sincerely,
Wilson Benson
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Anti-fraud resources:
