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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- +22997729764 (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.
- saminne12@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "ama david" <davidama5@norilsk.biz>
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 20:33:47 +0100
Subject: YOUR CASHER'S CHEQUE
Dear Friend,
I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting that fund Now,I
want you to contact my account officer on the information below in Benin for
him to send the money to you.
Name: Mr SAM INNE
EMAIL:saminne12@yahoo.com <saminne12@yahoo.com>
TELEPHONE: +22997729764
Finally Ask him to send you the sum of ($1.200mUSD) ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS, in A CASHIER'S CHEQUE,which I kept for your
compensation,Contact him immediately on this (saminne12@yahoo.com)for more
details on how to send your money to you.
Regards
Mr DAVID AMA.
Anti-fraud resources:
