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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:
- "to your nominated bank account" (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: Joel Young <suntrustbanknewyork5@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Jun 2022 00:48:37 +0100
Subject: RE
SIR/MA,
This office has been mandated to find out if your fund has been credited to
your nominated BANK ACCOUNT as reported in our database? Confirm the status
to me by e-mail as urgent as possible because the status of your file have
confirmed that you have received your fund into your bank account.
If I did not receive any response from you within the next 48hrs, we shall
assume your FUNDS has been successfully received by you.
I look forward to it as urgent as possible.
Yours Faithfully,
Dr Joel Young
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Anti-fraud resources:
