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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)
- "million 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)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: FROM MR BOB DALE <gkhkgkhgms450@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: ghkghkmmsis1478@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2012 11:43:26 +0100 (BST)
Subject: FROM MR BOB DALE
YOUR ATTENTION IS NEEDED FOR THIS TRANSACTION
GOOD DAY DEAR FRIEND,
GREETINGS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HOPES MY E-MAIL MEETS YOU WELL! ALSO IT IS A PLEASEURE TO HAVE YOU AS PART AND PARCEL TO THIS GREAT DEAL THAT MADE ME TO CONTACT YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. I AM A BANKER HERE IN UNITED KINGDOM AND CURRENTLY HOLDING THE POST OF DIRECTOR AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT OF THE BANK AND ACCOUNT HOLDER TO ONE ROBINSON NEIL (LATE) WHO DIED WITH HIS FAMILY IN SYRIA CIVIL WAR.
I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF TRANSFERRING THE LEFT OVER FUNDS ($25.5MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) OF THE LATE DECEASED DEPOSITED WITH OUR BANK SINCE HE TRAVELLED TO SYRIA AND HIS HOME WAS BOMBED BY THE REBELS KILLING ALL THE MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY, AND NOW THE BANK IS PLANING HOW TO CONFISCATE THE FUND SINCE NO ONE TO CLAIM THE FUND AS HE DIED WITH ALL HIS FAMILIES IN THE REBEL BOMB ATTACK.
PLEASE I NEED YOUR HONEST AND HUMANITY TO EXECUTE THIS TRANSACTION UNDER YOUR KIND CONTROL FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR BOTH FAMILIES.
HENCE, I AM INVITING YOU FOR THIS DEAL I WILL OFFER YOU 40% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT INVOLVE ONCE YOU HELP TO ASSIST IN RECEIVEING THE FUND INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT, PLEASE IF YOU ARE SURE THAT YOU ARE CAPABLE TO HANDLE THIS TRANSACTION AND YOU ARE READY TO ASSIST ME TO EXECUTE THIS BUSINESS WITH HONEST, THE FURTHER DETAILS OF THE TRANSFER WILL BE FORWARDED TO YOU AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR RETURN MAIL.
FOR MORE CLARIFICATION REPLY ME BACK AND PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CLAIMS ARE 100% RISK FREE.
HAVE A GREAT DAY….
FROM BOB DALE
UNITED KINGDOM
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Anti-fraud resources:
