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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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Felix Akoley" <smdorn.icb@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fekleyx@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 15:41:48 +0000
Subject: Get back to me!
Attention Dear Friend,
Am getting in touch with you regarding an extremely important and
urgent matter.If you would oblige me the opportunity to tell you how
important this issue. I am the branch manager of the International
Commercial Bank Accra Ghana.I have made a deep and careful findings
before contacting you. I write to solicit your assistance on a funds
transfer"please can you assist me to claim this abandoned ESCROW
ACCOUNT" The sum of (US$ 20,700.000.00.) As the original beneficiary,
this money in question is on ESCROW ACCOUNT" without a beneficiary.
There was our foreign clients who died, due to the numerous natural
disasters that hit the Asian countries" most of our customers lost
their life during the flood and earthquake. I need your assistance to
receive this funds into your bank account for us to SHARE. All I need
from you is to stand and claim this fund as the original depositor?
who made the deposit with the Kaneshie branch/ so that my remittance
transfer department can order the funds to your designated bank
account in your country. For your assistant to get this done? I am I
will offer you 50% of total amount as your commission. I assure you we
can achieve this successfully.
I await your urgent reply.
Regards,
Mr Felix Akoley.
International Commercial Bank
Accra/Ghana, Kaneshie Branch
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Anti-fraud resources:
