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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)
- "discussion of this transaction in further details" (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: "Mr.Jim Costa" <jimcosta20@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2018 22:30:06 +0100
Subject: Dear Sir/Madam.
Dear Sir/Madam.
I am Mr. Jim Costa, an Account Manager with a named bank here in New
York United States, and I handle all our Investors capital Project
Funds which enabled me to divert 1.2 Percent Investors Excess Return
Capital Funds to our Magellan Trust Funds Account whereby anyone can
be presented to claim the funds. On this note, a total sum of US$15
Million Dollars has been diverted representing the 1.2 Percent Excess
Return Capital Funds from the Investor Capital Project Funds for
2017/2018.
I need a reliable and trustworthy person that can work this deal out
with me so that we can claim the funds as mentioned above. There is no
risk attached and the funds in question can never be detected or
traced after claim. Our sharing ratio would be 50:50. If you are
interested, please reply and send your direct telephone numbers to me
for a smooth discussion of this transaction in further details.
Sincerely,
Mr. Jim Costa.
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Anti-fraud resources:
