|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: Kris Jaana <cutudu4@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2023 09:11:22 +0000
Subject: Good day
Good Day. I'm Barrister Kris Jaana, an Attorney and a National of
Togo. A client of mine died and left a huge amount of money in a bank
here and I want you to receive the funds($12.8million) my late client
left behind here in a bank due to his tragic death as a result of a
car accident on the 7-June-2011. I want you to receive the funds as
the next of kin to my late client. I will back you up so that the bank
here will transfer the funds to you. I want you to receive the funds
because you have one thing in common with my late client. And what you
have in common with my late client will make the Bank here to believe
that you are related to my late client and release the funds he left
behind to you as his next of kin. Regards, Barrister Kris Jaana.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
