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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Emmanuel Kofii" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kgbh@katamail.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2017 16:45:20 -0700
Subject: Help secure fund to a safe destination
Dear Friend,
Please we understand this mail will come to your as surprise,but we mean no harm.
I am the legal adviser to Retired Col Sambo Dasuki the detained former National Security Adviser to the former Nigerian leader Dr.Goodluck Jonathan.
The essence of this letter is to solicit towards securing part of his savings as the government is all out to confiscate all his funds and properties as measure towards punishing the opposition party leaders.
Further details shall be discussed once you indicate your full interest in helping to repatriate this fund to a secure destination.
However,the terms of your service and remuneration shall be discussed in due course upon your acceptance.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Barrister .Emmanuel Kofii
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Anti-fraud resources:
