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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:
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "foreign remittance department" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Robin Gaul <rgaul38@outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 16 Jan 2021 02:41:34 +0000
Subject:
Hello
I am a clerk in the Foreign Remittance Department of a Bank, I have a
very confidential Business Proposal for you. There is a said amount of
money floating in the bank unclaimed, belonging to a Foreign customer
who died with his family in the Ethiopian Airline crash of March 11,
2019.
I am her financial Manager with her Deposit here in the United Kingdom
I am his financial Manager with his Deposit here in the United
Kingdom. I seek your collaboration to front you as the Next of kin to
the deceased. Do get back to me with the following.
1) Your Full Name:
(2) Residential Address:
(3) Phone, Mobile.
I will furnish you with every detail and how to apply for claims of
the floating funds.
Regards
Robin Gaul
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Anti-fraud resources:
