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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)
- "transferred into your 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)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: " Gerald K. Goodman " <jjy@sejungapparel.com>
Reply-To: geraldkgoodman@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2018 21:29:56 +0100
Subject: Next of Kin is Urgently needed
Dear Sir/Madam.....(Good Business Partnership).
Date: 22- 08- 2018.
Time: 08:07am - Nigerian Time.
From: Mr. Gerald K. Goodman (Accountant).
Dear Sir,
Subject: Next of Kin is urgently needed.
I personally do not need your money rather I need your honest assistanc=
e/partnership in order to help me receive the sum of (US$65Million) which m=
y late client/customer deposited with Ecobank Nigeria Plc. My name is Mr. G=
erald K. Goodman and I am the Head of International Operations of Ecobank N=
igeria Plc, Lagos-Nigeria. My client/customer (Engr. Wang Yu) was an oil tr=
ade mogul who actually died in a plane crash here in Nigeria on June 3rd 20=
12 (Dana Airline).
Based on my influence as the Account Officer of my late client/customer=
, please I will like to present you as the new beneficiary/business partner=
/Next of Kin who will receive this SAFE money. The process to have this mon=
ey transferred into your bank account is very simple, safe and legal based =
on my influence as a professional banker.
As a matter of fact, I want to move this money into your bank account b=
efore I can come over to your country to invest. I actually want to relocat=
e to your country to start up a new life, so I want you to help me receive =
this money and also inform me of any good business which I can invest into =
because once the US$65Million is transferred into your bank account I will =
reward you with 40% (percent) of the total money. I will certainly provide =
you with more details as soon as I read your response indicating your inter=
est to partner with me.
Please reply me immediately because this business transaction is 100% S=
AFE.
Thanks.
Mr. Gerald K. Goodman. Accountant
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