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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "arifi@lawyer.com" <arifi@lawyer.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 00:17:19 +0800
Subject: PROPOSAL
Dear Sir/Madam
I am Almanizin Arifi, an attorney at law here in Malaysia. A deceased
client of mine that shares the same last name with you died
as result of a heart-related condition in March 16th 2010.Leaving behind
millions of US Dollars in his Domiciliary Account here.
his heart condition was due to the death of all the members of his
family in Auto crash in Sabah Malaysia. I want you to assist
in distributing the money left behind by my client before it is
confiscated or declared serviceable by the bank.
The bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin. My
proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as
the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my late client.This will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Thanks & Regard
Att: Almanizin Arifi
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Anti-fraud resources:
