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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "john01assey@gmail.com" <john01assey@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2017 10:07:24 +0000
Subject: Payment fund with ATM CARD.
Dear
Sir/madam,
I wish to inform you now about the good news we have just received from
the Bank,the bank have accepted to Open a new Domiciliarry account and
effect payment of your inheritance funds into it and will now be
sending an ATM CARD attached to the Visa account to your address in
your country from which you can now be able to withdraw your funds at
a daily limit of 10,000 Dollars per day untill the total sum of 2.6
Million Dollars is withdrawn.
I need to hear from you for confirmation of your acceptance and to
also re confirm your full delivery address and telephone number.
then they will send you a copy of the ATM Card and the cost of sending
it by special delivery speed post.A tracking number will also
accompany the card so that you can be able to track it untill it
arrives in your country safely.
Yours sincerely,
John Assey.
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Anti-fraud resources:
