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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:
- "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Francois Petit <f.petit9@fest.co.jp>
Reply-To: Francois Petit <infoinfo_2341@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: 10 Nov 2021 19:38:51 +0100
Subject: Re: Partnership Investment.
Hello,
I'm Francois Petit with Societe Generale Bank here in
France. I sincerely seek to present you as the Next of Kin
to a late client who left behind $145.5 million dollars in a
fixed deposit account in my bank before his demise.
The British born client was into Diamond and Gold mining and
died without a Next of Kin. I shall obtain the legal
documents that will give you legal rights to make this claim
legitimately. I am willing to share the funds 60/40 with you
and this shall be completed within 72 hours. With the legal
documents, the bank will approve you as the Next of Kin and
pay out this amount to you within three working days. I
considered the funds would be of better use to both of us
instead of letting the bank or some corrupt politician to
confiscate the funds.
Kindly get back to me as soon as possible with your full
name, address, direct contact number and occupation for the
processing of the legal documents if you are interested and
can be trusted to return my own share when you have received
the funds in your bank account. More information shall be
given to you once I hear from you. I put it to you that this
is probably going to be the best decision you ever make in
your life.
However, if you are not interested in the offer, kindly
delete this message from your mailbox and pretend that I
never contacted you. I'll continue my search for a reliable
person that will help out.
Best Wishes,
Francois Petit
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Anti-fraud resources:
