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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:
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "mustapha.mohammed11@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: mustapha mohammed <done26@gikma.in>
Reply-To: mustapha.mohammed11@outlook.com
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2019 05:23:41 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: READ AND REPLY BACK TO ME
Good Day Sir,
Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Mustapha mohammed.Regional Auditor Officer in (TURKIYE FINANS BANK) here in Istanbul.
I am a top official in charge of auditing.
In 2008 my client Mr. Collins Thompson was going through a horrendous divorce in the United States of America and was on the verge of losing most of his Estate to his vicious and diabolical wife.
As a result to this alarming predicament my client came to me with a very brilliant idea.
He transferred some funds, Ten Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10.2m) to a fixed deposit account in my bank under an alias which only the two of us knew.
Due to his untimely death in early 2010, the funds have been sitting in the account. This is where you come in. My client did not declare any next of kin in his official papers including the paper work of his bank deposit.
I would like you to act as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to my client so that you will be able to receive the funds.
Then we can share the amount on mutual agreement and I have contacted an attorney that will prepare the necessary documents that will back you up as the next of kin to my client.
I will need you to furnish me with below details on my private email address which is (mustapha.mohammed11@outlook.com)
Full name:
Address(Inclusive City, State, and Zip code
Telephone no
Age
Occupation
Your urgent response is highly anticipated and this should be very confidential
Kind Regards
Mustapha Mohammed.
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Anti-fraud resources:
