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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:
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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: Paul Nuban <rigafujimas@gmail.com>
Reply-To: paulnuban@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2021 11:47:21 +0000
Subject: Is me Paul asking for your collaboration
Please I am contacting you directly to introduce myself for the
collaboration I require from you which I hope will be beneficial to
both of us. My name is Paul Nuban I am a banker here in Ivory Coast
with one of the banks in this country.
I discovered a dormant account in my bank that has not been
operational for many years whose account holder has been dead for many
years and no trace of the relations from my investigations.
I want to use you as a family member of the deceased person to
transfer the money to a secure bank account that you will provide for
us to share the money, all modalities has been put in place to move
the fund to any account you will provide without being traced.
The amount involved is ( $1,500,000 ) One million Five Hundred
Thousand US dollars only while the funds will be shared in this ratio
50/ 50 if you agree to work with me,
Let me know your interest and willingness to handle the deal with me
so that I can give you all the details and information so that we can
immediately transfer the money to your bank account.
I am waiting for your urgent response to enable us move quickly to
facilitate the transfer of the funds to your designated bank account.
Best regards
Paul Nuban
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Anti-fraud resources:
