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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "honesty is the watchword" (the question is not whether they can trust you, but whether you have any reason to trust this person or anyone this person tells you to contact)
- "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: maryam Abacha <sweetmother003@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2022 06:26:21 +0100
Subject: HI
Dear Friend,
I repose great confidence in you hence my approach to you due to the
security network placed on my day to day affairs. I cannot afford to visit
the embassy so that is why I decided to contact you and I hope you will not
betray my confidence in you.
My late husband deposited the sum of $20.3million dollars in a switch
security firm abroad whose name is withheld for now until we open
communication properly and I am sure of your assistance as we do like to
introduce you as my late husband partner to enable them release the funds
to you.
Please endeavor to send down full details about yourself to enable me to
introduce you as my late husband's partner.
This arrangement is known to you and my son Mustapha alone, I accrue you
30% of this funds. Please honesty is the watchword in this transaction, I
will greatly appreciate it if you accept my proposal in good faith.
Please expedite! action. I will give you more information as to this regard
as soon as you reply.
Sincerely yours,
Madam Maryam
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Anti-fraud resources:
