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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Ken Gabriel <kengabriel@uk2.net>
Reply-To: kengabriel@freenet.lu
Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2010 17:12:23 +0100
Subject: I wait your response.
Greetings,
How are you doing? My name is Ken Gabriel I am an attorney. A late client of
mine shares a similar last name as yours, he died as the result of a heart
problem in 2004. His heart condition was due to the death of all the
members of
his family which left no one as the next of kin. I hereby contacting you to
assist in receiving the funds left behind as the beneficiary before it is
confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Financial institution.
The Finance
company has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will
be confiscated.
My dear I want to present you as the sole beneficiary of my late
client so that
the huge amount ($9M) can be paid to you. Then we can share the amount on a
mutually agreed-upon Percentage. All legal documents to back up your claim as
my client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest
cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. This will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the
law. If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my
apology. Due to the fact that I am still in active service with my firm I must
use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the position as the
next of kin
to the deceased and to keep this matter extraordinary confidential. Whatever
your decision, while I await your prompt response. I will like you to
acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as possible. I wait your
positive response.
Regards,
Ken.
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Anti-fraud resources:
