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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:
- "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: Mrs Annie H Kim <margaretekoche@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrsanniehyeminkim@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2023 05:17:53 -0700
Subject: Greetings
Greetings,
I am writing you this mail in respect of my late client that bears the same
last name as you. My late client died in a motor accident, whose relatives
I cannot get in touch with because he did not put down any WILL, and he
came to my country when he was a little child. I am compelled to do this
because I would not want the bank to push my client’s funds into the bank
treasury as unclaimed inheritance and the amount involved is $6.8 million
dollars and 250 Kilogram of gold deposited with the bank security
department for safe keeping.
He died without any registered next of kin and as such the funds now have
an open beneficiary mandate. Fortunately, both of you have the same last
name so it will be very easy to make you become his official next of kin.
If you are interested you do let me know so that I can give you
comprehensive details on what we are to do.
Best regards,
Mrs Annie Hyemin Kim
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Anti-fraud resources:
