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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)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Hassan Ahmed <mrhassana30@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2014 12:57:19 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT HELP.
Hello Dear Friend, Please read this letter very carefully, I mustapologize for barging this message into your mail box without any formalintroduction due to the urgency and confidential of this matter, knowing thatthis message will come to you as a surprise, please this is not a joke and donot joke with it. I am Mr. Hassan Ahmed: I hope that you will not expose or betray this trustand confident that I am about to establish with you for the mutual benefit ofus. I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sumof ($15) Million United States dollars into your account within 7workingbanking days. This fund has been dormant for years in our Bank without claimdue to the owner of this fund died along with his entire family in an air crashsince July 31st 2009. I want our bank to release this fund to you as thenearest person to our deceased customer while I come over to your country toshare this fund with you as soon as you confirm this fund into your account andask me to come over. I don't want this fund to go into our Bank treasure asan abandoned or unclaimed fund. So this is the reason that made me to contactyou so that our bank will release this fund to you as the next of kin to thedeceased customer. Please I would like you to keep this proposal as a topsecret and delete it if you are not interested. Upon the receipt of your reply and indication of yourcapability, I will give you full details on how the business will be executedand also note that you will have 45% of the above Mentioned sum if you agree to handle this businesswith me while 50% will be for me and 5% for any expenses that may arise on theprocess.Because I don't want anyone here in our bank to knowmy involvement until you confirm this fund into your account and ask me to comeover for the sharing as I indicated.Please kindly fill your information belowI am looking forward hearing from you immediately. My cell. +226 6626 5553  1).Your Full Name ……2).Your Full Address……3).Your Phone Number……4).Your Account Number……5).Your Age………………6).Your Sex…………7).Your Occupation………8).Your marital Status……9).Your Nationality……… Thanks with my best regardsMr. Hassan Ahmed.
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