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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: "Rev. David Mensah" <mrvictornana@gmail.com>
Reply-To: destitutehomefoundation96@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:19:22 +0000
Subject: Answer back
Dear Friend
My name is Rev. David Mensah. Director of Destitute Home Foundation Ghana.
I am writing you in regard to a good friend of mine and founder of this
orphanage who died intestate and nominated no successor in title over the
fund deposit in a bank.
I have therefore contacted you to be legally nominated as next of kin
(inheritor) to funds in question since you have the same surname with him,
after all inquiries and investigation even with the relevant embassy has
yielded no results showing that there is no living next of kin.
My dear kindly confirm your willingness to accept this inheritance if you
are legally and legitimately nominated through my recommendation to the bank
Thank you for understanding and God bless you.
Rev. David Mensah
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Anti-fraud resources:
