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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:
- "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)
- "icb_department@ymail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Richard Kufo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <icb_department@ymail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 May 2011 07:34:37 -0300
Subject: I am waiting for your urgent responds.
Hello,
This message might meet you in utmost surprise; however, it’s just my urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact you for this transaction.I am Mr.Richard Kufo a banker by profession working in SNS BANK of Amsterdam The Netherlands as a support staff and currently holding the post of Director Auditing and Accounting unit of the International Commercial Bank.
I have the opportunity of transferring the left over funds to the tune of (USD$8.4M) (EIGHT MILLION, FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) of one of my bank Customers who died along with his entire family on 31 July 2000 in a plane crash. You can confirm the geniuses of the deceased death by clicking on this web site http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
He had no relations to claim the fund and I want you to help me receive the fund as his next of kin in your country.This is an opportunity for us to claim the fund and give our lives a complete definition.
Hence, I am inviting you for a business deal where this money can be shared between two us in the ratio of 50/50 percentage. If you agree to my business proposal.Further detail's of the transfer will be forwarded to you as soon as i receive your return mail, you send your responds with your telephone number so that I will call you for more clarifications.
Please do not respond to this on skype for security reasons.
This are my private email addresses: icb_department@ymail.com
I am waiting for your urgent responds.
Have a great day,
Regards.
Mr.Richard Kufo
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Anti-fraud resources:
