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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "jrbrown@mail.bg" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Jerry Brown <jrbrown@mail.bg>
Date: Sun, 12 May 2013 19:39:06 -0500
Subject: RE:Urgent Response Needed
Dear Friend,
I am Jerry Brown, an attorney at law and I am contacting you on important i
ssue concerning a deceased client of mine who died as the result of a heart
-related condition on the 11th of March 2011, which I have made all efforts
to locate his friends or family but all my effort was in vain and that is
why I have contacted you to assist in claiming the Fund left behind by my c
lient before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where
his fund value of $15.7million U.S Dollars is lodged. This bank has issued
me a notice to contact the next of kin or the fund will be transferred into
the
Federal government reserve.
My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of
-kin and beneficiary to my late client because I have the power of Attorney
do so, so that the proceeds of his account can be paid to you. Then we can
share it on an agreed percentage which we will discuss on your response to
my email.
All legal documents to back up your claim as my late client's next-of-kin w
ill be provided. All I require is your honest and cooperation to fasten up
your claim and to enable us see the transaction through.
I await your response.
jrbrown@mail.bg
+229 682 798 47
Regards,
Jerry Brown
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Anti-fraud resources:
