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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:
- "million united states 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: "Mr. Felix D. Zania" <mrflexzania@outlook.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 06:33:16 +0100
Subject: I wait for your urgent response.
I am a manager in one of the leading banks here in Cote d' Ivoire. I amsending you this email for a second time because I want us to discuss onthis matter that will profit us both. I discovered a large abandoned sumof over Ten Million United States Dollars belonging to one of ourforeign customer and since 2007 the account has been dormant.Investigated, I discovered that the owner who worked with an oil servicingcompany here in Cote d'Ivoire died in a ghastly motor accident sinceOctober 2006.No other person knows about this account. The Strategy is to use myinfluence as Manager of this bank to approve and transfer the funds to youas the kin since you both bear the same last name for our mutual benefits.If interested forward to me your full name, age, address, Profession, cellnumber.I wait for your urgent response.
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Anti-fraud resources:
