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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:
- "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: David Lim <davidlim50@outlook.com>
Reply-To: David Lim <davidlim52@outlook.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2018 22:34:40 +0900 (JST)
Subject: How are you doing my good friend
Dear,
Greetings to you, I am Mr. David Lim a personal Accountant-manager. I make this offer to you in connection with the death of investor who bears the same last name with you has left some huge amount of Money ($26.5 Million) with Our Bank for some years. After unsuccessful attempts in search of their relatives I decided to contact you because he bears the same last name with you, I am 100% in position to make changes of hard data information from old information to your new name as next of kin.
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any Breach of law, waiting for your response for more details.
Sincerely,
Mr.David lim
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Anti-fraud resources:
