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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- jambw1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: James Brown <jambw1@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 16:31:40 -0800
Subject: FROM MR. JAMES BROWN
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
KUALA LUMPUR , MALAYSIA.
DEAR FRIEND,
I HOPED THAT YOU WILL NOT EXPOSE OR BETRAY THIS TRUST AND CONFIDENT THAT I
AM ABOUT TO IMPOSE ON YOU FOR THE MUTUAL BENEFIT OF OUR FAMILIES.
I GOT YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS FROM THE INTERNET WHEN I WAS SEARCHING FOR A
BUSINESS PARTNER.
I NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE IN TRANSFERRING THE SUM OF (USD20.5 M) TO
YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
THIS MONEY HAS BEEN DORMANT FOR YEARS IN OUR BANK WITHOUT ANY BODY CLAIMING
THE FUND.
I WANT THE BANK TO RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO OUR
DECEASED CUSTOMER. THE DORMANT ACCOUNT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN
CUSTOMER WHO DIED MANY YEARS AGO.
IN SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT OF THE MONEY, 45% OF THIS MONEY WILL BE FOR YOU
IN RESPECT OF THE PROVISION YOU MADE BY STANDING AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO
CLAIM THIS FUND, WHILE 50% WILL BE FOR ME AND 5% WILL BE SET ASIDE TO COVER
ALL EXPENSES INCURRED BY BOTH PARTIES DURING THE CLAIM.
I DON'T WANT OUR INSTITUTION TO RECOVER THE FUND AS AN ABANDONED FUND. SO
THIS IS THE REASON WHY I CONTACTED YOU SO THAT THE BANK CAN RELEASE THE
MONEY TO YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED CUSTOMER.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, KINDLY FORWARD THE BELLOW LISTED INFORMATION'S TO MY
PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS ( jambw1@gmail.com )
1. NAME IN FULL:.......................
2. ADDRESS:...................... ........
3. NATIONALITY:.................. .....
4. AGE:.......................... ...........
5. SEX........................... .............
6. OCCUPATION:................... ...
7. MARITAL STATUS:............
8. PHONE......................... ..........
9. FAX:.......................... ...............
10. SCAN AND SEND A COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY CARD .
YOURS SINCERELY,
MR. JAMES BROWN
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Anti-fraud resources:
