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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:
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Martins Jackson <martinsjackson425@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 17:31:16 +0000
Subject: Hi
Dear
I got your profile and decided to write you for an important and
confidential business proposal.
My name is (Mr.Martins Jackson ) From Togo. It's Just my urgent need for a
foreign partner that led to my contacting you about this transaction.I am a
banker by profession and currently holding the post of a chief auditor in
our Bank.
I need a foreign partner who will support me because i cannot claim this
money without a foreign partner since the deceased client (the owner of the
fund) was a foreigner.
This fund ($8.3 million USD) will be shared between us in the ratio of
60/40.I agreed that 40% of this money will be for you as a respect to the
provision of a foreign account while 60% will be for me and I want to
assure you that this transaction is absolutely legal and risk free since i
works in this bank and i have all the necessary information that might be
needed. Before we proceed, i would like to know your ability to handle this
fund over there in your country.
Kindly update me with the following information because i will want to know
you more before we proceed on this transaction. Hope you will understand
the importance of this request.
1. Your full name.......................
2. Your age/sex ..........................
3. your occupation ................
4. Your residential / Postal address ..................
5. Your private phone number ..................
6. Your fax number ...................
Thanks
Martins
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Anti-fraud resources:
