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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: Barkev Hagopian <bahagopianesq@outlook.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2017 11:11:09 +0000
Subject: MESSAGE NOTIFICATION.
Dear Sir,
This message will be the last notification that I will send to you as my earlier letters sent to you through Post Office was returned undelivered. Hence I decided to reach you via email because this information needs urgent attention.
I'm contacting you because of my deceased client who died in 2013, and the management of the Bank has issued me a notice to provide an extended next of kin of the deceased who deposited a sum of (Seven Million Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) or have the account confiscated within the next 14 banking days.
I am the personal attorney, and will be disappointed if the labor of my client is confiscated. Since you bear the same surname and may be an extended member of the family, i want you to kindly get back to me for verification process with the following information's for appraisal to enable me compare pass it on to the board of directors of the Bank for approval on your behalf so we can receive this funds for our future benefits.
1. Your full names
2. Current address
3. Telephone and Fax numbers
4. Date of Birth.
5. Country of Origin
I wait for your response to enable me expedite every legal action to this effect. I will assist you in any possible way that i can to enable you receive the total sum deposited, with accumulated interest. I fell you will appreciate my effort for giving you my kind assistance.
Yours in active service.
Barkev Hagopian ESQ
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Anti-fraud resources:
