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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:
- "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "timothy.neil@me.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Timothy Neil Briggs" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 6 May 2010 00:04:26 +0200
Subject: Timothy Neil
Good day,
I am Timothy Neil Briggs, a solicitor at law. I am contacting you about a dormant account in a tune of Thirteen Million, Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars belonging to my late client who shares similar surnames with you.
I was given an ultimatum from the Bank to provide a member of the family, and i have written several letters to his embassy to locate any member of his family but all efforts lost.
I want to present you as a surviving family member to enable you put a claim to the funds.
Please indicate your interest for more information by responding to my private Email account: timothy.neil@me.com
Thanks,
Timothy Neil Briggs
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Anti-fraud resources:
