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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 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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.John Frank" <"www."@spice.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Dr. John Frank" <dr.john.frank@mail.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2017 19:45:14 +0900 (JST)
Subject: I'M WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU
Forgive my indignation if this message comes to you as a surprise. I got
Your contact when I was searching for a foreign reliable partner
I hope you will not expose or betray my trust in you
I am (Dr.JOHN FRANK) the Head of file Department in African development
Bank (A.D.B). In my department we discovered an abandoned sum of $15
Million U.S.A dollars. In an account that belongs to one of our foreign
Customer who died along with all his family in the Asia Earth Quake
Disaster (TSUNAMI DISASTER INDONESIA / INDIA.
Since we got information about his death, unfortunately I learn that all
His supposed next of kin or relation died along side leaving nobody
Behind for the claim. In respect to the provision of a foreign account
($6 million dollars) for you and ($9 million dollars) for me. There
After I will visit your country for measurement according to the
percentages indicated.
(FOR MORE DETAILS PLEASE FILL THIS FORM)
Your Full name......
Your country.......
Your Age............
Your occupation.....
Phone Number........
Office Address......
?
Hope to hear from you soon,
Yours faithfully,
Dr.JOHN FRANK.
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Anti-fraud resources:
