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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)
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "into your nominated bank 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)
- "luismartins@ozu.es" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Luis Martins" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <luismartins@ozu.es>
Date: Tue, 3 May 2011 16:28:33 +0200
Subject: In Quest Of Aid For The Late Michael Harris.
Dear Friend,
I crave your indulgence for the unsolicited nature of this letter, but it was borne out of desperation and
current development. Please bear with me.My name is Sr.Luis Martins , a legal practitioner and the personal
Attorney to late Mr. Micheal Harris who died in Air France plane which disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean
with Brazilians and French nationals on board.Airline officials said he died along with his wife Mrs. Anne
Harris on the 31 May 2009 Air France plane with other 447 passengers on board (May their soul rest in
peace).I know that my client had no living kin but I went ahead and made several inquiries to their embassy
to locate any of my clients extended relatives but this has proved unsuccessful.Meanwhile the ministry of
Finance and Economic has issued an order to all the Banks to release any unclaimed fund immediately
whenever the next of kin is discovered with dully application.
You can confirm this from the website below which was published by
BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8077858.stm
I only did so to be double sure of this fact. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and
property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank here i
n Spain,where these huge deposits were lodged.And the deceased had an account valued at about
€9 Million Euros in the Bank. The bank has issued me a notice that in the event that no next of kin comes
up for the claim, the account will be confiscated if not claimed and we have just about few months.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over now I seek your consent to present you
as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at €9 Million Euros can be
paid into your nominated Bank account and then you and me can share the money in the mode. 60% shall
be for me and 35% for you and 5% shall be map out for expense that will be made within the transfer.
I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is
your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Please your telephone and fax number urgently needed for further discussion.
I look forward to your urgent response.
Here is my direct email address. luismartins@ozu.es
Best regards,
Sr. Luis Martins.
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