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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million dollars" (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)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "contract award committee" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Steve Collins." <sc327725@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2023 22:38:14 +0200
Subject: VERY URGENT
My name is Mr.Steve Collins.from Burkina Faso,I'm the Chairman of
FOREIGN PAYMENTS CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE and also Director of Foreign
Remittance Department of African Development Bank (ADB) Burkina Faso,I
have($17.4million Dollars) to transfer to your country for investment,
and the fund has been transfered to our Corresponding bank And i have
all the documents you will present to our corresponding bank for the
transfer the fund to your bank account without any delay.
And if you are interested get back to me immediately with your
information for the process the fund to your bank account.
(1) Your complete names.
(2) Your age.
(3)Your occupation.
(4)Your marital status.
(5)Your full residential address and country.
(6)Your direct phone and fax numbers.
(7)A copy of your driving license or passport scanned and sent to me by mail.
Thanks and Best regards,
Mr.Steve Collins.
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Anti-fraud resources:
