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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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: ATM OFFICE <drdavidwilliam12@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2014 05:57:24 +0000
Subject: Urgent Reply
Dear Friend ,
Thanks for responding to my proposal. My name is Dr, George Robert William from Bank of London I contacted you in good faith
to work with you with utmost sincerity and transparency.All I need from
you is co-operation and honesty. I contacted you because you have the same surname with one of our
late customers who Deposited a total sum of ( $5.5 Million U.S Dollars )
in Bank of London. Our client was involve in an air cash
that claimed his life and his family. My Head Office has issued a
letter for me to locate his relative who will stand as next of kin to
claim the said funds. In accordance to the letter I started searching
for his relative but to no avail. All search efforts proved abortive.
I therefore contact you to stand as my client relative since two of
you are bearing the same surname to claim the inheritance. I am
compelled to do this because I would not want my Head Office to push
this funds into the bank treasury as unclaimed inheritance. I will
furnish you with all the necessary documents related to this transaction
if you agree to work with me, contact my private E-mail (dr.georgerobert.william1414@outlook.com) Please note that this transaction is 100% RISK FREE I am waiting for
your approval so that we can commence arrangements Send to me the
following information if you are interested to concluding this
transaction with me.
Your Full Name:.....................
Contact Home Address..........
Telephone Number..............
As
soon as I receive the above mentioned I will submit it to the Bank your
details as the Next of Kin through our legal representative in the
bank. I look forward hearing from you soonest.We are arranging this
project with the top director of the bank so there is nothing to fear
about i wait your urgent reply
Thank You.
Dr, George Robert William
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Anti-fraud resources:
