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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)
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Diana Lewis" <diana009lewis@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 03:39:03 -0700
Subject: I WISH TO INVEST IN YOUR COUNTRY.
Dear Friend,
I WISH TO INVEST IN YOUR COUNTRY.
I am contacting you to assist me in something I could not accomplish
all alone, my name is Madam Diana Lewis my late Husband name is Mr.
Ben
Lewis we are from Côte d' Ivorie my Husband was killed in the recent
presidential political war in Côte d' Ivorie.
There is somethings I need you to know and to assist me. My late
Husband Mr.Ben Lewis deposited the sum of (5.5 Million U.K Pounds with
a SECURITY FINANCE HOUSE) in the UNITED KINGDOM LONDON and I am the
next-of kin.
Since the death of my late Husband Mr. Ben
Lewis I have been contacting the (SECURITY FINANCE HOUSE) on how to
clam the consignment from there custody.
Few days back the director of the ( SECURITY FINANCE HOUSE ) in the
UNITED KINGDOM LONDON wrote to me that I will have to present an
international foreign partner to clam of my consignment on my behalf,
as confidential as it is due to my late Husband Mr.Ben Lewis.
Who he was before he was killed, I then decide to look for a trustee
outside of my country to help me I am only 58 years old age I will
give you more details when you respond to my mail I will give you the
documents and tell you the name and address of the ( SECURITY FINANCE
HOUSE ) in the UNITED KINGDOM LONDON to proceed.
Thanks I wait to hear from you soonest for more details.
Your sincerely
Mrs. Diana B.N Lewis.
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