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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22993913756 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- christ_re_church@yahoo.fr
Fraud email example:
From: goodluckeze@freenet.de
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:08:29 +0100
Subject: FOR YOUR PAST EFFORTS.
DEAR FRIEND,
I AM MR GOODLUCK EZE AND I AM VERY HAPPY TO INFORM YOU
ABOUT MY SUCCESS IN GETTING THAT FUND TRANSFERED. NOW I WANT YOU TO
CONTACT MY PASTOR ON THE INFORMATION BELOW AND RECEIVE YOUR COMPENSATION
OF 1.5MILLION US DOLLARS FROM MY PASTOR
SEND HIM THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION TO PROVE YOURSELF TO HIM:
YOUr FULL NAME;.............
YOUR
CONTACT ADDRESS:..........
YOUR OCCUPATION:...............
YOUR PHONE
NUMBER:..............
NOTE THAT IF YOU DID NOT SEND HIM THE ABOVE
INFORMATION COMPLETE,HE WILL NOT RELEASE THE CHEQUE TO YOU BECAUSE HE
HAS TO BE SURE THAT IT IS YOU.ASK HIM TO SEND YOU THE TOTAL SUM OF
1.5MILLION US DOLLARS CASHIER\'S CHEQUE,WHICH I KEPT FOR YOU.
NOTE ALSO
THAT I WILL ONLY BE REACHED BY EMAIL FOR NOW BECAUSE I AM CURRENTLY
AWAY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE WITH MY SHARE AND I WILL BE BUSY TILL ABOUT
SIX MONTHS TIME OR A YEAR.
NAME:MR JOSHUA
ABRAHAM
EMAIL:(christ_re_church@yahoo.fr)
CONTACT PHONE; +229
93913756
REGARDS,
MR GOODLUCK EZE
Anti-fraud resources:
