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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "into your nominated bank 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)
- "million us 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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Keith Jowell" <rjclasonica42@gmail.com>
Reply-To: bfsfundreleasedeptlondon@yandex.com
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2015 22:54:15 +0000
Subject: Your payment update
For your information,
You have been approved to receive the sum of $4.5 Million US Dollars only,
as part payment of your overdue inheritance funds after due reconciliation
with the British financial Audit Report of this present year 2015. Please
note that your payment is ready and will be remitted to you through our
accredited paying Bank here in London.
You are hereby required to re-confirm your below details for immediate
processing/remittance of your approval funds into your nominated bank
account as authorize by the British Ministry of Finance foreign affairs
dept.
1. Your Full Name
2. Your Direct cell phone/Mobile No
3. Your country Name
4. Your complete Address
5. Sex
6. Occupation
We are sorry for any inconvenience the delay in transferring of this fund
must have caused you. We are waiting for your urgent response in regards to
this notification.
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Keith Jowell,
Director foreign operations
British fund settlement London UK.
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Anti-fraud resources:
