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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "first national bank" (not involved with lotteries)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "million 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 next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Reverend Callum Thompson" <contact@tampines1.com.sg>
Reply-To: callum@charity-chapel.org
Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 01:04:48 +0300
Subject: Rev Callum Thompson kindly read
Dear Friend ,
My name is Rev Callum Thompson from First National bank United State Of A=
merica, I contacted you after I have looked into your profile to Be an hone=
st person. I will like you to handle a transaction of $56 Million Dollar th=
at was be abandon for 5 years because the owner Die in an auto crash 5 year=
s ago.
Since I work in First National Bank want to legally move the money out of =
the bank through the help of You. You will only apply as the beneficiary si=
nce you have the same last name with the dead person. The fund is deposited=
in an First National bank Escrow account. I can also give you the informa=
tion to confirm the account through telephone banking.
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this dealt throu=
gh. I have all the documents (DEATH CERTIFICATE AND DEPOSIT CERTIFICATE) re=
quired to this transaction I guarantee that this will be executed under a l=
egitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. You=
can send me this information
Your Full Name:
Your House Address:
Telephone and Fax
Occupation and Sex:
Your Email: cezannamalter@joyousliving.com
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased, so =
that the proceeds of this account valued at $56 million dollars can be pai=
d to your account and then you and me can share the money. 45% to me and 50=
% to you, while 5% should be for expenses.
Awaiting your prompt respond.
Reverend Callum Thompson
Computer Anaylsis.
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Anti-fraud resources:
