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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:
- ",000,000" (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.
- 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 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.
- +22997968621 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2008 07:52:24 +0100
Subject: Urgent Response
*Dear.*
*We have concluded to effect your payment through western union $5,000.00
daily
until the $5,000,000.00 is completely transfered to you accordingly.*
*Though, Mr Samson Nkono has sent $5,000.00 in your name today so contact
Western union Agent: Mr.Alex Chinelo TEL: +229-97968621
E-mail: **western.union210@live.fr* <western.union210@live.fr>
*Tell him to give you the mtcn, sender name and question/answer to pick
the $5,000.00.*
*NOTE; this payment was directed to be made available in your name.
Please, do not forget to update me as soon as you receives this first
payment.*
*Thanks
Mrs Elder Pau *
Anti-fraud resources:
