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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Patrick Coleman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <l.services12@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2017 15:04:12 -0500
Subject: URGENT, Pease consider
Dear friend,
Please consider to help me relocate this $32.6m USD for establishing a profitable business in your country. This fund was deposited in a financial institution by Mrs. Nina Wang from Hong Kong who died of cancer on April 3rd 2007 without a heir.
A routine notification was sent to her forwarding E-mail address but without responses. She did not declare her next of kin in the bank official papers including her real home contacts.
Read on this website ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6524861.stm)
As soon as I have your following information confirmed to me by email, I will proceed to file in an application of claim to the bank in your name for onward release of the $32.6 Million to you.
1. Your telephone number
2. Occupation
3. Gender and age
4. Your Full Name and Complete Contact address
This money has been floating and if I do not remit it out urgently it will be confiscated by the government as unclaimed fund. You will be compensated with 40% for your collaboration to receive this fund.
I will give you all vital information and clarification when I receive your reply
Regards,
Patrick Coleman
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Anti-fraud resources:
