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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- mmark.dougllas@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. MARK DOUGLAS" <marvinkennedy18@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mmark.dougllas@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2015 10:41:44 +0100
Subject: THIS MAIL IS NOT JUNK IN CASE IS IN SPAM (SHARE THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH ME)
Fund Account / Deposit Number : 726J26549
Attn: Dear friend,
My Name is Mr. Mark Douglas, I was an auditor and deputy head of
computing department of a bank Branch here in United Kingdom. There
was an account opened in this bank in 2004 and after our third quarter
auditing on 9th January 2011 ,it found this account has been dormant
and when I investigated deeply by contacting the assigned next of kin
I also found that the next of kin to this account was an Indonesian
who lived in London for over 63Yrs and has died in Japanes earthquake
and nobody has operated on this account again after 2004.
Knowing the source of the deposit and also the depositor has died I
took the courage and moved the money out of our bank to another bank
in the same coded deposit form because if I had not done so it will be
forfeited for nothing because the bank has given two months for claim
or Bank management would divert the funds to their own accounts.
Based on the final order of the bank I took the courage to look for a
reliable and honest person who I will present as next of kin to
receive the fund for our mutual benefits.
Please respond immediately I will use my position and influence to
effect the transfer into your account with appropriate clearance from
foreign payment department since I have all the documents of claim.
You stand to get a good percentage which I will negotiate with you.
Kindly quote the reference (acct) numbers above when responding to
this mail. I will clearly give you full details upon your reply. Reply
through my personal E-mail: mmark.dougllas@yahoo.co.uk
Sincerely yours,
Mr. Mark Douglas
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Anti-fraud resources:
