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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:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million 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: Uzoka Kennedy <alexpaycbn01@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.uzokakennedy@outlook.com
Date: Sat, 9 May 2015 08:48:33 -0700
Subject: important Information about your fund.
INSTRUCTION TO RELEASE YOUR INHERITANCE FUND OF $1.5 MILLION DOLLARS
This is to intimate you of a very important information which will be
of a great help to redeem you from all the difficulties you have been
experiencing in getting your long over due payment due to excessive
demand for money from you by both corrupt Bank officials and Courier
Companies after which your fund remained unpaid to you.
It may interest you to know that reports have reached our office by so
many correspondences on the uneasy way which people like you are
treated by Various Banks and Courier Companies/ Diplomats across
Europe to Africa and Asia /London UK and we have decided to put a stop
to all that.
All Governmental and Non-Governmental prostates, NGOs, Finance
Companies, Banks, Security Companies and Courier companies which have
been in contact with you of late have been advised to hands up from
your transaction and you have been advised NOT to respond to them
anymore since we are now directly in charge of your payment.
You are hereby advised NOT to remit further payments to persons and
institutions with respect to your transaction as your fund will be
transferred to you directly from our Office.
Any action contrary to this instruction is at your own risk.
Please,fill the following and send back to us.
1.Full Name:............................................. ........
2.Address:........................................ ...............
3.Nationality:.................................... ...............
4.Age:........Date of Birth:.....................................
5.Occupation:..................................... ...............
6.Phone:...............Mobile/Cellular.............:...................Fax:.....
.............
We urge you to adhere strictly to this final payment notification
order and forward to this office the required information to enable us
process and release your fund as soon as possible.
Regards,
Uzoka Kennedy
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Anti-fraud resources:
