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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:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "mreta.bison@live.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- +22998674698 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. James Abel" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mreta.bison@live.fr>
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 13:50:02 +0200
Subject: Your Urgent Attention is needed Now
ECOWAS FINANCIAL BOARD
AGOTOKON SQUARE, PLOT 991/992
MAIMALARI ZONE AO,
Attention:
I know you may have given up about your fund, however is a pleasure to give you the good news.
Be inform that THE ECOWAS FINANCIAL BOARD has approved compensation and issued the pay check of $1.500.000usd each for the compensation payment to all the foreign contractor, investors and beneficiary who lose their fund with some others who were not paid due to one reason, and your E-mail Address is among the listed Addresses for the compensation.
You are expected to contact the cash point officer Mr. E.N Bison (Email: mreta.bison@live.fr / Tel: +22998674698) immediately with your Referrence Number below. (No. 9662/ECOWAS.FB/EMAIL)
These details No. will proved to him that your are the beneficiary of the Pay check of $1.5 Million usd.
A $100usd has been given to him for the payment fee to deliver your pay check to your address once you send him your address,
And make sure you furnish him with any requirements needed for the delivery of the pay check to you.
Regards
Dr. James Abel
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Anti-fraud resources:
