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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- "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: Kwesi Baiden <webmail@Dplaceltd.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <kwesibaiden@live.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2014 09:22:23 +0100
Subject: Product Supply Inquiry
Dear Sir/Madam,
We are Margins Company GH Limited, an authorized government/Business agent based in Accra Ghana.
We got your company information on the internet your product is needed by the Contract Procurement Board (CPB), Accra Ghana.
And we will like to make a preliminary presentation/introduction of your company to the contract award committee for their consideration.
Our scope is basically searching for companies, manufacturers/suppliers to bid for government contract on commission basis. We receive 2% commission from the seller/manufacturer in any successful contract done through our recommendation.
Could you please be kind enough to furnish us with the following information to enable us resent/introduce your highly esteemed company to the appropriate Board Parastatal.
(1) Your price list in CIF or FOB
(2) The Technical details of your product
(3) Your company profile
You may include any information or document that you deem necessary.
We are looking forward to working with you.
Kind Regards,
Mr. Kwesi Baiden
(Director/CEO)
<kwesibaiden@live.com>
Margins Company GH Limited
P.O.Box Os 556 OSU
Accra, Ghana
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Anti-fraud resources:
