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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: "JAMES SCHERMAN" <jameschermann@gmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: jamessscherm@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2015 14:46:09 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: ACCOUNTING UNIT
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT.
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT.
Greetings to you
This message might meet you in utmost surprise; however, it's just my
urgent need for a foreign partner that made me to contact you for this
transaction. I am a banker by profession here in South Africa and
currently holding a post as the Director of Auditing and Accounting unit
of the bank. I have the opportunity of transferring the left over funds
($18.5million) originally belonging to one of my bank clients Mr. Kurt
Kahle who died along with his entire family on 31 July 2000 in a plane
crash. You can confirm genuinely the deceased’s death by clicking on this
web site
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
Meanwhile the whole arrangement and directives needed to put claim over
this fund as the bona-fide next of kin to the deceased will be forward to
you upon your acceptance, information will be relayed to you as soon as
you indicate your interest and willingness to assist us and also benefit
your self to this great business opportunity. If you have read and agree
to my proposal,Send me your full name and adders/age/occupation and your
phone number.
Please,you are advised to keep this as top a secret as I am still
in service and intend to retire from service after I conclude this deal
with you. I will be monitoring the whole situation here in the bank until
you confirm the money in your account. All other necessary information
will be sent to you when I hear from you. I suggest you get back to me as
soon as possible stating your willingness in this deal.
Have a good day
Best Regard
Mr. James Scherman
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Anti-fraud resources:
