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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:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Jerry Mike" <beabea120@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2018 17:10:26 -0000
Subject: Hi
Hi
My name is Jerry Mike the principal treasury officer with one of the prime
banks in Cote d'Ivoire. I would need your consent to present you as the
next of kin to our late customer who died of heart attack in 2015. He was
a wealthy businessman who deposited a huge amount in our Bank. He died
without any registered next of kin as he was long divorced and had no
child.
I was his account officer and have in my possession all the documents
required to present you as his beneficiary next of kin. I contacted you
because you have same name identity with our late client and can perfectly
fit in as next of kin, We can work together to claim this fund. Please
listen, this is real and goes on in Banks all over the world without
people knowing. Let us utilize this opportunity because it does not come
always. A lot of customers open private accounts with different Banks
without the knowledge of their families and when they die, such money will
be lost to the Bank unless someone comes to claim it. This is how a lot of
Bank Directors make so much money silently.
On your confirmation of this message and indicating your interest, I will
furnish you with more details. Please endeavor to provide me with the
following so that we can discuss in details.
Your full name:
Your contact address:
Occupation;
Your phone number:
Date of Birth:
I urgently hope to get your response as soon as possible.
Yours Sincerely,
Jerry Mike.
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Anti-fraud resources:
