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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Vincent Bernard <vincentbernard2015@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2015 10:35:57 +0100
Subject: David Byrne Estate
Greetings,
I am writing you for a business proposal. My name is Vincent Bernard and I
am working at a courier company in Brussels Belgium. Last week I got
reliable information that one of our clients who deposited a consignment
with us died in a motor accident. Unfortunately, he did not fill in any
next-of-kin while depositing the consignment, but he was a British
citizen. I am appealing to you to come forward and act as his next-of-kin
so that you and I can claim the consignment without the knowledge of
anybody that I am involved. The consignment is US$38.8 million. I propose
that we share it 50/50 after removing expenses. There is no risk involved
in this as I am an insider and will help in providing the documents needed
to make claims. I shall inform you of how we are going to proceed if you
are interested.
Yours sincerely,
incenVt.
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Anti-fraud resources:
