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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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- 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: "Mr Marne Kenshalo" <marne.kenshalo@onet.eu>
Reply-To: jp8987653@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2020 12:15:41 -0000
Subject: Your unclaimed funds notification
Good morning. On my desk is your funds release file of $5.5M USD funds
with references numbers: FCA/BC/GHX/72/055/01 that was approved in your
favour as Financial Grant but has remained unclaimed since its approval
till date.
Be informed that I have written to you before reminding you of the said
funds but to my surprise you have not responded till date hence this last
reminder.
Kindly be informed that one Mrs Sharon Morgan was in my office 2 days ago
and submitted an Affidavits of funds claim and power of attorney
confirming that you are dead. According to her, you died of coronavirus
pandemic (COVID-19) pandemic
As stated in the Affidavits of funds claim and letter of power of attorney
and documents for the change of funds ownership/beneficiary she submitted,
she alleged that you personally willed your estate and your funds to her
while you were in isolation center before your death.
Please if you are still alive confirm the above within 48 hours for
necessary actions because I am under pressure. Otherwise, the funds will
be processed and released to her as your authorized next of kin and
representative as she stated
Yours faithfully
Mr Marne Kenshalo.
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Anti-fraud resources:
