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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- hengsuan202@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Heng Suan" <hengsuan202@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:26:26 +0530
Subject: VERY URGENT
Hello dear,
I am Mr.Heng Suan, I was the financial consultant to a deceased client who is from your country.I seek your co-operation for you to stand as the beneficiary/next of Kin to the funds (USD$10,500,000.00) deposit and 25KG of gold deposited by my deceased client in a bank here.You are hereby advised to reply me quickly to enable me send you the secret details about the claim/transfer of the unclaimed assets to you in your country.
This transaction is highly confidential and urgent,and after the funds is transferred to your account in your country you shall have 50% share while i will also take 50% share.
I am very sure that the bank will release the funds/assets to you because you have the same last name with my late client,I shall guide you properly on how to contact the bank for the release of the funds and gold to you.
Reply to my private email address below for more details if you are interested to claim this funds and assets with me.
My Email: hengsuan202@gmail.com
Yours Truly.
Mr.Heng Suan
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Anti-fraud resources:
