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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:
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Dr Lucas Morrison <dr.lus.morris00@mail.ru>
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:46:02 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Attention please,
Attention please,
I have emailed you earlier without a response, I hope all is well? In my first email I mentioned about an abandoned fund which was deposited by our late customer of this Bank called Mr. Rafik Bahaa Edine Hariri. I am compelled to do this because I would not want the Bank to push the funds into the Bank treasury as unclaimed inheritance.
This mail is written and intended to solicit your assistance to be presented as NEXT OF KIN to our Late Client since you are a foreigner and only a foreigner can lay claims on this inheritance. The Governing Body of the Bank has contacted me on this matter and I am yet to provide the Next of Kin to lay claims to the Fund. I am Dr.Lucas Morrison. The Director of Foreign Remittance Unit; under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I shall seek your consent to be presented as the next of Kin so that the Fund will transfer into your account.
For the sake of Transparency on this matter, you are free to make immediate contact for further clarification and explanation on this matter. And all the information and data's you will need to make successful claim of this fund in the Bank are fully ready with me now.
Please urgently confirm your willingness and interest to assist by filling and sending back to me the needed information below. 1. Your full name; 2. Your phone Telephone and fax numbers ; 3. Your age; 4. Your sex; 5. Your occupation; 6. Your country and city.
Thanks and best regards. Dr.Lucas Morrison
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Anti-fraud resources:
