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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: "Mr Martinas Bamu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <martinasbamu@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 20:39:36 +0100
Subject: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN!!
Dear Friend,
It is my pleasure to seek for your business assistance, and I want you to consider it very
important. This is an opportunity I would want us to utilize very well.I am Martinas Bamu
head of auditing and accounting section of my bank which I will disclose to you later.One of
our customers a Seasoned Contractor/Gold dealer in Ghana Republic, was among the victims of
car accident that crashed on the 31-10-2008 in Kumasi road but since then we have not had
any body coming for claims as the next of kin.
After his death, I have carried out various inquiries to locate any of his extended
relatives but this has proved unsuccessful because he died without having a next of kin
named/written to his fund deposited in the bank.I hereby write in regards to this effect to
have you stand as the rightful beneficiary (NEXT OF KIN) to Engineer Dieter Ulrich so that
the funds will be transferred into your foreign account before the Bank declares the total
fund unserviceable or confiscate the funds.
Please you shall take 40% of the total funds immediately the funds reflect in your account
and 60% shall be for me as the originator of this transaction.
I immensely request for your optimum honesty and co-operations. Endeavor to send your
contact address,occupation and phone number for more details.Your interest will be
negotiable before we commence this project.
I look forward to hear from you soonest.
Best Regards,
Martinas Bamu
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Anti-fraud resources:
