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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:
- "affidavit of claim" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Patrick O." <lonardjoe44@gmail.com>
Reply-To: unclaimed_clearancedept@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2023 20:18:15 -0700
Subject: YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE
--
Attention!!
I am Mr. Patrick Ohen. And an adviser to one late Mr. Harry Billy an
Oil Merchant who died in 2018. And before his death, he has $35.5M
Deposited with Nat West Bank London and he lost his entire family, a
wife, and only 3 children in a plane crash in 2015 on their way back
to America. Now he has no next of kin to stand for these said funds
for a claim in the bank. And these funds have been in dormant
accounts.
I want to present your full name as his next of kin to the bank and I
will process these funds payments released to you after you have been
made the true next of Kin as I procure your affidavit of claim
certificate from the court of law to tender to the bank and send a
copy to you for your personal perusal as the true beneficiary to
receive these funds $35.5M, hence I am contacting you.
I want your urgent response as you send the following information
below to commence the processing of this transaction as the true Next
of Kin. After receiving these funds in your account you are entitled
to 40% and 60% for me and my colleagues.
(1) Your (international passport / Driving License copy).
(2) Full Name:-------
(3) Your Age:--------
(4) Your Occupation /Profession.:----
(5) Your position:------
(6) Your Home/Office Address
(7) Your Phone Cell number.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Patrick Ohen.
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