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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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: Susan Justin Yak <susanjustinyak@sify.com>
Reply-To: susanjustinyak@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 6 Nov 2011 03:57:14 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: My Dearest Friend...........................
Dearest Friend,
My name is Miss. Susan Justin Yak, originated from South Sudan. I decide to contact you after my prayers; I really want to have a good relationship with you. My father was the former sectary for SPLA Affairs and Special Adviser to President Salva Kiir of South Sudan for Decentralization. Who die in plane crash Military officers and top government officials had been on board when the plane crashed on scd of May Friday 2008.
You can read more about the plane crash through the below website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7380412.stm
After the burial of my father a faithful morning, I opened his' briefcase File and found out the documents which he have deposited huge amount of money in one bank in Burkina Faso unknown name as the next of kin.
The manager of the Bank whom I met in person told me that My father Mr. Justin Yak instruction to the bank was the money should be release to only of his family members, or relation that he can not release the money to me because am too young to handle such money,
I will like to disclose much to you if you can help me to relocate this funds into your account in your country, I want you to stand as one of my relation who travel many years ago and you came across the notice that your late Uncle Mr. Justin Yak Deposit 6.5million usd dollars in Eco bank in west Africa you have come to claim the funds and you want the funds to be release into your bank account.
Thanking you a lot in anticipation of your quick response. I will give you details in my next mail after receiving your acceptance letter to help me.
Yours Sincerely
Miss. Susan Justin Yak
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Anti-fraud resources:
