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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:
- "account opening" (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. )
- "million pounds" (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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Michael Lewis" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <micheallewise@yahoo.cn>
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2011 16:32:24 -0500
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION REQUIRED
Dear Sir,
Let me quickly brief you about this business. A net worth client of a bank where I work has suddenly died.
He left behind in his account 20.6 million pounds sterling, while opening the account he did not leave a
beneficiary/next of kin in the banking paperwork used for account opening.
I want you to come forward and act as the next of kin/beneficiary to the funds left behind by the deceased,
this is simple. I shall upon your response if you are willing to assist me in the project which is 100% risk
free contact an attorney who shall procure the necessary documents that shall put you as the next of kin
to the deceased.
As long as the bank gets all legal documentation as proof that you are the bonafied beneficiary they shall
release the funds to you. You do not necessarily need to be physically present to do this, an attorney here
in the United Kingdom shall be your representing attorney throughout the entire transaction which will take
less than 14 banking days upon commencement and subsequent transfer of the funds to an account that
you shall provide.
I shall give more details when I hear from you.
Regards,
Michael Lewis
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Anti-fraud resources:
