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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 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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Royal International Bank Malaysia
<royaltransferdepartmentmala@outlook.fr>
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2017 08:16:50 +0000
Subject: Your Inheritance Fund Approval Payment Alert.
Attn :Dear Inheritor, This is International Co-operative Bank, sending an payment alert message of $10.5 million dollars have approved in your name on 20th December 2016 which you inherited by your late uncle with the bank. Today the bank paying dept is 100% ready for the successful release and transfer of the $10.5 million to any of your destination bank account in oversea without any trouble or delay by immediate order from the Central bank of Benin. Upon your confirmation response you will fully details on how your approval inheritance fund Automatic Transfer to your destination bank account within 24 hours successful without any trouble. The bank awaiting for immediate reply which to enable the transfer dept fill out all arrangement of the payment of your inheritance fund get to you. We look forward on your urgent reply as we are to serve you better.
Thanks & Best Regards,
Miss. Joy David.
Secretary Transfer Department.
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Anti-fraud resources:
