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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.
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Alexander Tovil" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alexander_tovil@outlook.com>
Date: Mon, 11 May 2015 10:37:09 -0700
Subject: Email to you.
Hello,
I have written an earlier mail to you but no response.In my first mail I mentioned to you about my late client who deposited some fund with a bank here in Amsterdam - Netherlands before he died in April 2009. He bears the same surname with you.
Since his death the bank has tried to contact any member of his family but all to no avail.I have closely checked and since you bear the same surname with the deceased client it will be better to present you as the next of kin and the rightful beneficiary of the funds in the account.The total sum left in the account is EUR10M (Ten Million Euros) I will provide you with all the necessary legal backing that is required until this money is paid out to you, and then we shall share it base on our agreement.
Do respond quick if you are interested or should you need further clarification because we have no much time left.
Thanks you for your cooperation
Mr Alexander Tovil
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Anti-fraud resources:
