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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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Suru" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <btsuru@mail.mn>
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2012 14:36:00 -0000
Subject: COMPLIMENTS.
Dear Friend.
I am Bonnie Tyler Suru,an attorey. I am representing the interest of my late client,a foreign business man who passed away here in my country three years back.
I am contacting you to seek your consent in presenting you as a foreign business partner to my late client, to enable us file a claim over the proceed of the bank account left behind by my said late client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where the founds are beeing deposited.
I shall provide you with more details upon your response.
However,You will also be entitled to a percentage agreed upon between you and I. Please note that all the plans on how to execute this deal has been carefully examined before contacting you.
Your immediate reply will be highly appreciated.
Respectfully Yours,
Bonnie Tyler Suru Esq.
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Anti-fraud resources:
