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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- mac.heavenltd@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: A & E Textile Co. Limited<mac.heavenltd@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:58:58 +0700
Subject: Employment Opportunity ((Part time))
A & E Textile Co. Limited
Reply strictly on this email: mac.heavenltd@hotmail.com
Dear Sir/Madam
Would you like to work online from home and get paid weekly? A & E TEXTILES needs a book-keeper in the states, so I want
to know if you will like to work online from home and get paid a 10% commission without leaving or affecting your
present job? Please if you are
interested in this position, contact us via the email immediately.
You will be receiving and cashing payments from our US clients on our behalf, take your salary(10%) and send the rest
through western union.You are required to send us your full
name,physical address, zip code and your phone number make
sure you get back to me at my private e-mail address below.
Email:mac.heavenltd@hotmail.com
Regards,
Mr. Mac Heaven(Recruitment Manager).
Anti-fraud resources:
