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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:
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mustafa Ayvaz" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <inbox.mustafaa@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2019 13:41:51 +0200
Subject: I am glad I found you
Hello Sir,
I am a Consultant to a wealthy Personnel whom died in Syria
Civil War.
Unfortunately, this customer died intestate leaving his bank account with an open beneficiary status.
I solicit your consent to enable me present you to his Offshore bank as his next of kin Via our Attorney to claims the dormant account worth $18.5 million USD."
I Look forward to your Reponse with Optimism.
Regards
Mustafa Ayvaz
Senior Consultant
Ayvaz Attorney LLB HONS:
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Anti-fraud resources:
