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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)
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Amudu Smani <amudu.smani@laposte.net>
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 2013 09:56:23 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FROM Mr Amudu Smani.
FROM Mr Amudu Smani.
DEAR FRIEND,
I AM THE MANAGER IN THE BILL AND EXCHANGE DEPARTMENT OF BANK OF AFRICA IN BURKINA (BOA) HERE IN OUAGADOUGOU THE CAPITAL CITY OF BURKINA FASO. IN MY DEPARTMENT WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF US$8.8M(EIGHT MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) IN ACCOUNT THAT BELONG TO THE BANK DECEASED CUSTOMER WHO DIED WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY ALONG WITH HIS SUPPOSE NEXT OF KIN ON A GASSY CAR ACCIDENT SO THEREFORE,I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TO ENABLE THE MONEY TRANSFER INTO COMFORTABLE NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT.
IF YOUR INTERESTED TO RUN THIS TRANSACTION WITH ME BY ACCEPTING TO RECEIVE THESE FUND, BUT IF THE PROPOSAL IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO YOU PLEASE DO ME A FAVOUR BY DELETING THE MASSAGE FROM YOUR MAIL BOX.
TRULY YOURS,
MR AMUDU SMANI. (BOA).
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Anti-fraud resources:
