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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:
- "00,000.00" (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: "Mr William D" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <willdabain@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2017 18:43:31 -0800
Subject: I need your help
My name is William D. I am working with Finance Bank in North Parakou an account manager to late Abba who died in gold mining collapsed here. I'm here to inform you that after several attempts to locate any of my client relatives, family members since 2012 practically proved abortive, I am delighted to locate you. I will like us to discuss about my client finances amounted to US$7,100,000.00 with us and his gold deposit with Gold Planet Negoce. I am seeking your consent to present you as the next of kin to my client so that his fund/40 Kilos of Gold will be transferred to you. You will get 60% for your participation to secure the fund/gold, while 40% will be for me. kindly get back to me as soon as you get this message
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Anti-fraud resources:
