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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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "million 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: john harry <johnharry30030@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 20:57:58 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION NEEDED
Dear Friend,
First of all let me thank you for taking time
to peruse the correspondence. I am a Medical Consultant and attending
Physician with the Alpha Hospitals more details of which you can get
on our website www.alphahospitals.co.uk.
I have thoroughly considered the implications professionally before
deciding to divulge the information herein contained in this
correspondence for which reason I am requesting your cooperation and I
hope you also will handle the details with confidentiality and
exigency.
I am personally responsible here for an important patient by the name
Ms. Zurina Yunus suffering from a condition diagnosed as Pickwick
Syndrome. The lady is sixty years of age this year and she was
formally an accountant General with the Iraqi administration.
Ms. Zurina Yunus confided in me information that her late husband had
lodged the amount of Fifteen Million US Dollars with a Property
Security Establishment in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This lodgement was
in physical cash and known to herself and her late husband only. The
cash consignment was freighted and delivered to the Security firm by
consular conveyance amenities.
Presently Ms. Zurina Yunus wants me to travel to Malaysia and retrieve
the cash consignment and then arrange to deposit the cash into a
proper bank account from which transfers can be made however
unfortunately I cannot make such a trip now whereas I have never been
to Malaysia before and know no one there.
Ms. Yunus has agreed to give me thirty percent (30%) of the total
value for this assist and I am willing to share this with you anyhow
you deem satisfactory.
I anticipate your soonest response and if you are positive and can
handle the matter as necessary then I will furnish you with further
details to enable us proceed and retrieve the fund with exigency.
Thank you in anticipation of your cooperation.
Sincerely yours',
John Harry. M.D
Alpha Hospitals UK.
+44.792.451.4429
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