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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:
- "million 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)
- ",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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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.
- +2348054408358 (Nigeria, 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.
- ecowasdonationdepts@gmail.com
Fraud email example:
From: =?iso-8859-2?B?IlBldHIgQnLoZWsi?= <kalecib@iol.cz>
Reply-To: ecowasdonationdepts@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 03:48:59 GMT
Subject: ECOWAS DECEMBER AWARD SPLASH (YOU WON)
Dear Winner
This is to officially inform you that you have been choosen as one of the 10 beneficiary to win Five Million United State Dollars ($5,000,000.00 USD) From the Ecowas End of Year Promotion. The main aim of this promotion is to say a big thank you for supporting the Economic Communities Of West African States (ECOWAS) Over the years. Kindly fill the form below to file for your claim:
Full Names:
Sex:
Date Of Birth:
Location:
Country:
Occupation:
Telephone Number (FAX/MOBILE)
Nationality
The form should be sent to
Dr. Steve Bimbola
Tel: +234 805 440 8358
E-mail: ecowasdonationdepts@gmail.com
Thanks for taking part in our yearly promotion . God Bless you.
Yours truly
Sir Murphy Mgango (SSO II)
Anti-fraud resources:
