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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.Lim Sopheap" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.limsopheap356@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2014 16:02:57 +0700
Subject: LETTER OF INTENT
Dear Friend
I hope this mail finds you well. I read your profile on my research and find it safe in dealing with you. I request for your help to acquire a deposit and invest it in your care as partnership.
A valuable customer in my branch who is late now, bears the same last name as yours. This late customer died in a ghastly car accident with his entire family in Cambodia some time in 2004. The deceased have a substantial amount in his account which has been unclaimed since he died because of the absence of next of kin/relatives to demand his fortune with the bank.
Due to inconsistence in proper record keeping on the government birth register which tried many time to link it with immediate family with avail , the bank board of directors has decided to turn the fund of the deceased customer over to bank purse. if nobody comes for claim as they have waited long. If it happens like this the fund will eventually become Bank’s property and this is my reason for contacting you seeing that you share the same name with the deceased.
Therefore, i seek for your honest co-operation and understanding to stand as the deceased next of kin so that we can claim the inheritance before it enters the bank purse. We will execute this deal under a legitimate procedure that wills safe guide us from breaking any law.
With my experience as a banker I am sure that if we follow up this deal carefully it will be finalized within 10 working days.
Further information on how to accomplish this will be released to you when I get your response.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Lim Sopheap
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Anti-fraud resources:
