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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:
- "death certificate" (this phrase is often used in inheritance scams such as next of kin or https://www.419scam.org/419-murdered-businessman.htm">orphan scams. )
- "contract review panel" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Tunde Charles." <tundecharles@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2014 14:39:21 -0800
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION NEEDED
PRIVATE MEMO.
Attn: URGENT ATTENTION NEEDED
We are in receipt of a Death Certificate certifying you dead and seeking
for Final Transfer of your over due contract funds to an Account in London.
All the Local Financial Contractual Obligations have been met and the
funds is ready for transfer to the London account.
Please understand that if we do not hear from you IMMEDIATELY, We shall
treat you as DEAD and the funds Will be duly transferred to the Account and
Name presented to us and no account will you Blame us
You have been notified.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Tunde Charles.
Chairman of Contract Review Panel
And Payment Master General Federation of Nigeria.
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Anti-fraud resources:
