joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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:

Fraud email example:

From: Philips Benelux<fuofficeassistant@dowellsadvisory.com>
Reply-To: p.benelux@yandex.com
Date: 21 Mar 2022 11:58:26 -0700
Subject: Re:please get back to me

Hello,
 
 I found your contact information from your country’s National Public Record while searching for a last name that is similar to my late client. My late client was a business magnate who lived and worked with an Energy Company here in Belgium for over two (2) decades but died of a heart attack a year following the demise of his wife and two children in a horrifying car accident.
 
 My client had an unclaimed “transfer on death” (“TOD”) monetary savings valued at 5.8M EUR. As his Financial Advisor , the policy holding company has mandated me to present a member of his family to make claims. It is based on this that I seek your collaboration.
 
 With your collaboration, I can add your name to the policy so the release of the 5.8M EUR will be processed in your favor.
 
 Full details will be communicated upon your assenting response.
 
 Regards,
 Philips Benelux
 Investment Advisor Representative (IAR)
 p.benelux@yandex.com

Anti-fraud resources: