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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 british pounds" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "FRANK MCMULLEN" (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2015 17:20:44 +0100
Subject: Re: From Frank McMullen
I am Frank McMullen from National Lottery Commission UK.I contacted you about an urgent business deal that has to do with someone who I believe is related to you by virtue of his last name. I have tried to locate any of the family members all to no avail. In my quest to locate such person, I came across your identity. Coincidentally you bear this same surname with the identity of the man we are looking for and this is the major reason why I contacted you. I have been mandated to certify the next of kin to this man within thirty official working days. I will give you comprehensive details about this transaction when I hear from you. For the benefit of the doubt, this is in excess of 3 Million British Pounds.
Yours sincerely.
Mr.Frank McMullen.
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Anti-fraud resources:
