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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "united state of america" (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: Mr Sung Nyon Kim <office8@aingok.gq>
Reply-To: <sungnyonkimmm@yahoo.de>
Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2016 02:25:29 -0700
Subject: YOUR FUNDS APPROVAL
Dear Sir/Madam
Good Morning
YOUR FUNDS APPROVAL $5M
This email is to notify you about the release of your approved outstanding payment funds of $5M United States Dollars. A time frame have been given to settle all foreign debts which includes Contract/ Inheritance/Charity/Lottery. News had it that over the past years, numerous individual(s) have not receive their payment which is Over Due for payment. I brought this good news to let you know that your funds have been approved.
PLEASE READ CAREFUL AND DIGEST THIS MESSAGE FOR MORE LIGHT BEFORE YOU RESPONSE
I discovered that you have not receive this payment funds but your Email Address ID was still intact on the computer system which I used in sending you this message in order for you to claim the $5m which have approved. It was your EMAIL ADDRESS ID ONLY WITHOUT ANY OTHER INFO ABOUT YOU that was in the Computer Data System that I used to trace to send you this message you are receiving from me.
THE ABOVE HAVE CLARIFIED YOU HOW I GOT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.
Your Funds is right now with the bank in UK under "BENEFICIARYS NAME WITHHOLD" which have been credited with the approved bank for further payment to you.
In the next email I will be forwarding you the proof copy of the credited funds
We have received a mandate and instructions from the Office of Foreign Assets
Control (OFAC) U.S Treasury Department's to commence the immediate release of your funds. I am right now in the United State of America in order to guide and direct you in line with the procedure you should follow so that you can receive your payment..
Kindly confirm receipt of this message for further directives.
I await your response
Yours faithfully,
Mr Sung Nyon Kim
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Anti-fraud resources:
