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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- +22997635407 (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.
- andredossou2@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Andre Dossou" <andredossou1@gala.net>
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 20:53:07 +0100
Subject: FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Dear,
I know you might be skeptical receiving this email (as we have not known
each other). There is however no reason to be apprehensive as all I request
is for your co-operation to have the sum of US$15,500,000.00 transfered out
of my bank, Ecobank, Benin.
Everything regarding the transaction is already perfected, so (if you are
interested) you should please email me with the following information:
1. Full Names
2. Address (physical)
3. Telephone numbers and fax (if applicable)
So that we can reach an agreement and kick-start the transaction.
Should it be that you are not interested in this, please just disregard my
email and never let anyone know about it.
Yours,
Andre Dossou
+229 97635407
Please reply me through this email: andredossou2@gmail.com
Anti-fraud resources:
