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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:
- "million united states 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Ige Muyiwa" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <muyiproject@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2014 23:45:34 +0100
Subject: [PLS. TREAT THIS MAIL AS URGENT]
Greeting to you, My name is Mr. Ige Muyiwa, I am banker by profession with the BANK OF AFRICA BOA COTONOU in Republic of Benin and I am the chief account officer to Late Mr. Lam Kok who died in a helicopter crash in France while inspecting one of his new acquisitions.
Please follow the link to read more about his story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25476662
I have the opportunity of making you the beneficiary to his deposited funds with our bank value of funds US$58,000,000.00 Fifty Eight Million United States Dollars . I have all the details and required information to make you the beneficiary to the funds. Get back to me via my email for more details about the deal only if you are interested to actualize this deal with me.
Regards
Mr. Ige Muyiwa
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Anti-fraud resources:
