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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Williams Tosh <janez.stegnar1@telemach.net>
Reply-To: <williamstosh684@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 03 May 2016 15:53:53 -0700
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
My Dear Friend.
I am a banker from the Republic of Ghana. It gives me the privilege to
contact you in regard to our late esteemed client who share the same
Surname with you.
Since the death of our late client, No one has shown up as his next of
kin to put claim to the $5.6 million deposited in his Escrow account.
So it is my intention to present you as the next of kin to the Bank
management since the both of you have the same "Last Name" so that the
inheritance can be released to you.
The reason I'm presenting you to the management is that the board of
directors of the Bank have concluded plans to confiscate the $5.6
million since no one has shown up as the next of kin to the deceased.
This decision is in accordance with the Bank regulations.
If you accept to be my partner by presenting you to the Bank
management as the next of kin to the deceased, I will give you 30% of
the contract sum as gratification after the claim.
Thanks for your kind consideration and cooperation.
Respectfully,
Williams Tosh.
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Anti-fraud resources:
