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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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- mrscarolineotoo24@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Agricultural Development B <adbankofficial@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 09:22:21 +0100
Subject: Notification
My Dear Friend
How is everything with you today?. My name is Mrs.Caroline OTOO ; I work
as Executive Director at Agricultural Development Bank United Kingdom.
I wish to share an important business discussion with you and it is an
opportunity i would like us to utilize well.
I write you in respect of my foreign customer with our bank before his
sudden death. His name is ( Mr. Bruno Tammy)
Managing Director of Crown Oil Company, He had a fixed deposit with my bank
in 2009 for 48 calendar months;
Amounting to USD$8.400,000.00 (Eight Million Four Hundred Thousand United
State Dollars). Sadly he was among the dead victims in Libya war, that
killed over 20,000 people in June 2011. He was in Libya on a business trip
and that was how he met his end.
So when I saw your name, I decided to contact you so that I can present
you as the legitimate next of kin to the account(Reason being that Mr.Bruno
Tammy had none) to enable my bank headquarter release the money to you. You
are most qualified in this transaction ; I am ready to share the mode of
these funds 50/50% with you.
For further enquiry & communication,contact me via my direct personal
E-mail:(mrscarolineotoo24@gmail.com) if you are interested. I hope to hear
from you as soon as possible.
I remain respectfully yours
Mrs. Caroline OTOO
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Anti-fraud resources:
