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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:
- "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)
- "dormant account" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: BICICI BANK <bicicibank.togo@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 May 2015 16:59:55 +0000
Subject: Dear
Dear
I am Mr. George Olivier ,am internal auditor from Togo republic , I need
your assistance in a business of transaction of $9.5 million dollars ,which
we are going to share it to our self 50% each , you will only act as next
of kin to our late client whose his bank account is dormant and the
dormant account can only be activated and the transaction will take place
.If i can trust you for this transaction , reply me back immediately for
more details.
Yours Sincerely
Mr. George Olivier
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Anti-fraud resources:
