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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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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: Elias Mala <h.dike01@gmail.com>
Reply-To: info.elias_mala@consultant.com
Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2017 14:28:02 +0200
Subject: Revert
I am Elias Mala, personal attorney to my late client,whose relatives I
cannot get in touch with. I am contacting you to assist in
repatriating the fund left behind by my late client. The amount value
of $12.3 million dollars only.
He died without any registered next of kin and the holding bank
issued me a notice to present any of his family member or relative who
will inherit the fund, that failing to present anyone that they will
confiscate the fund. I am contacting you to assist me as a relative
to my late client.
I will give you full details of this inheritance as soon as I hear from you.
You can call me on: +228-90985328
Best regards
Elias Mala Esq
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Anti-fraud resources:
