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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:
- "million 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)
- "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: "BJS <bjsbjsbjsbjs@anonymous.com>" <admin@productsource.com>
Reply-To: bjscholes46@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 04 Jan 2016 12:49:01 -0700
Subject: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.
Hello.
I work for a bank in London, United Kingdom as an auditor. During our annual audit in 2014 I discovered a dormant account belonging to a foreign client of our bank who died interstate (without naming a next of Kin in his account records). I have kept the details of this account as a personal secret ever since. The account has a Multi-Million Pounds Sterling value and has been dormant for a while. The funds will be sent over to Her Majesty's Treasury if no one claims it after a certain period of time.
I am hereby requesting that as a foreigner, you partner with me to claim these funds as the official next of kin. I will use my position in the bank to influence the successful claim as long as you agree to cooperate with me and follow all my instructions and guidance throughout the process.
For my personal security I will love to be addressed as BJS for now. I will give you full details of myself and this transaction on receipt of a signed Non-Disclosure agreement which you will receive in my next email, only if you indicate an interest by sending me;
1. Your full names
2. Complete Mailing//Postal and
3. Private cell/mobile phone numbers only.
Please note that this is 100% genuine as I have a perfect plan in place. Hence, I am taking the necessary steps to protect myself because I don't want to lose my Job and all that I have worked for. I only have 12 months to my retirement. Please keep it as "HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL" if you decide to proceed with me or delete and not disclose if you decide to pass. I await your immediate response and hope it will be positive.
Regards,
BS.
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