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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- akufor_mr.david@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. David Akufor" <mrdonald_odume@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2017 11:53:39 +0000
Subject: Kindly read and get back to me as soon as possible.
Hello dear.
It is with trust and sincerity that I approach you for this business Project. I seek your concept to present you as the foreign executor next of kin to my deceased client who made a deposit of $US17, 000, 000 (Seventeen Million United State Dollars) with a bank here in Ghana few years back.
Dear you are at the advantage to stand as the beneficiary of the left fund in the bank. Since both of you are bearing the same last name. As the late deceased lawyer I will defend you at the bank and the total amount will be transfer to your personal account. This is a deal and I’m not a greedy person we will share it 60%40, while 10% will be for any incurred expenses, if you are interested send your names and telephone number on my private email for further communication. (akufor_mr.david@yahoo.com)
Regards
Mr. David.
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Anti-fraud resources:
