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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Jeff Lee <jefflee.flee@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2012 14:07:57 +0800
Subject: Hello,
--
Dear Friend.
I'm *Mr. Jeff Lee* the present Director, Audit & Accounts Unit,
HSBCMalaysia. Please, treat this information as secret and highly
confidential.
There's an account with the sum of $9.5 Million that hasn't been operated
for the past 4 years.
This account belongs to a Japanese oil dealer who unfortunately died with
his family in a Tsunami. He had neither a legal will nor a surviving next
of kin. I need your help as a foreigner to claim the money through my
advice and share it with me. You can see what happen to the family:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1368531/Japan-earthquake-tsunami-Workersdig-mass-grave-countrys-major-burial.html
There is practically no risk involved, the transaction will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law
in Malaysia and your country.
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**Thanks
Yours Sincerely
Mr. Jeff Lee**
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Anti-fraud resources:
