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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:
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Clement Odumodu <ckaku2015@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ckaku011@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2017 16:56:42 +0100
Subject: Re: Greetings From Mr.Clement.
Mr.Clement C.Odumodu
Tel: +228 99506494
17th of August 2017
Hello Dear,
Very Urgent Message
My names are Clement C.Odumodu. I am contacting you in respect of my late
client, an Oil and Gas Contractor who seemed to be your relative. He left
behind US$8Million in a bank here before his death. and the deal will be
shared rate 50/50 % and it's bank to bank wire trasaction within Seven
working days.
Could you diligently come up for this claim, I will be glad to present you
to the bank as his next of kin so that the proceed of his fund will be done
in your name i am his personal lawyer and will give you all the necessary
assistance to achieve this claim.
Your full names..........
Your private telephone...
Sincerely yours,
Clement.
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Anti-fraud resources:
