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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Iqbai Khan <iqbai.khan@outlook.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2017 01:50:26 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Mutual Partnership
Hello,
I have a business I will like us to discuss, it is all about an inheritance claim. I work with Credit Suisse Bank and I have a customer of mine who died with his entire family and left huge amount of money with our Bank. It is my duty to present to my Bank a next of kin to the deceased customer as his account officer, all my effort so far to locate any of his relative has proved abortive.
I want to use this opportunity to bring you on board as the next of kin/beneficiary to my late customer. I will provide you all the necessary documents which the Bank might demand to certify you as the beneficiary/next of kin. I will guide you on each step to take for the successful completion of this project. I will give you 40% of the entire fund while I take 60% as the originator.
I will give you further details as soon as you indicate your interest to my proposal
Thank you and I await your response
Mr. Iqbai Khan
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Anti-fraud resources:
