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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: FIRST COMMERCE TRUST BANK USA <imfoffice200017.fund@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mscariettisabella@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2022 09:16:16 +0100
Subject: For Your Attention:
--
For Your Attention:
We have received messages from one Jackson Earl who claimed to be your
next of KIN. He informed us that you died as a result of a Covid-19
illness. We are still under investigation base on our skepticism and
will not take any lawful step to release your approved inheritance
funds valued Nine Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars, to anyone
until after 72 hours if we truly didn't get any message directly from
you. Though, we have tried severally to reach you or any of your
relatives but of no avail. He has provided us with his Citibank
account details to enable us proceed with the remittance. Please if
you are alive, kindly respond to this message as soon as you receive
this mail to avoid matters similar to our previous encounter where a
beneficiary approved funds were diverted by an unknown impersonator.
Sincerely,
Mrs. SCARLETT ISABELLA (CUSTOMER CARE FIRST COMMERCE TRUST BANK USA)
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Anti-fraud resources:
