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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 pounds" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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: Cen Jianchao<>
Reply-To: wwsjohn@mail2uk.com
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2015 11:25:00 +0300
Subject: Ref: Confirm Mail Receipt
Hello,
My name is Cen Jianchao writing on behalf of my late client who shares similar Surnames with you. After his death the bank contacted me to provide his Next of kin to inherit his fortune according to the policy in such circumstances. I have written several letters to his embassy with the intent to locate any of his extended family who should be the beneficiary and my effort has been fruitless.
The board of directors just adopted a resolution and I am given an ultimatum of 30 working days to provide his next of kin or the funds valued GBP£42,000,000.00 (Forty- Two Million Pounds Sterling) will be fortified by the bank. I therefore want to present you as the only surviving family member to enable you put a claim to the funds.
Please kindly indicate your interest for more information by responding to my private email address.
Yours faithfully,
Cen Jianchao
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Anti-fraud resources:
