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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: coe234@zohomail.com
Reply-To: mrandynk233@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2020 12:30:28 +0000
Subject: Re-send your respnose.. 207.252
Dear Sir/Madam
Good day,
I have previously sent you an email regarding this development without any response from you.
I am The account Manager to one of our late client and I have decided to contact you to stand in as the next of kin to my deceased client deposited funds since you share same last name with him to enable us receive his deposit(USD 12,600,000.00) as inheritance benefits, hence He died without indicating next of kin.
I am compelled to do this because I would not want the finance house to push my client's funds into their treasury as unclaimed inheritance.
This transaction is 100% risk free while the funds will be shared 50 by the both of us upon successful conclusion of the fund transfer to your nominated Bank account.I will also required your assistance to investing my own part of the funds in your country in any lucrative business of your choice. Please advise urgently as your information is all I require to facilitate the claim application on your behalf.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Andrew K.N
Account Manager
Citibank GH Representative Office
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Anti-fraud resources:
