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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:
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- mrsrechealetu@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Bon Adegome" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bonadegome@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 19 May 2010 19:30:58 +0200
Subject: CONSIDERATION
Hello,
I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting the fund transferred to
a Swiss Account with the cooperation of a new partner from New Zealand who is
an international business man. Presently I'm in New Zealand for investment projects
with my own share of the total sum.
Meanwhile, I did not forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in
transferring those funds despite that it failed us some how.
Now contact my secretary.
Her contact is: Name: Mrs. Recheal Etu
Email Address: mrsrechealetu@yahoo.com.hk
Ask her to send you the total $1.500.000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand
US Dollars) that I kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and
attempts to assist me in this matter.
Also do use part of the money for philanthropist purposes for use in helping
the less privileged in your area. Especially at this festive season. Put a
smile on somebody face and let the world be better for it.
I appreciated your efforts at that time very much. So feel free and get in
touch with my secretary Mrs. Recheal Etu and instruct her where to
Send the amount to you.
Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the
joy after all the suffering at that time. In the moment, I am very busy here
because of the investment projects which me and the new partner I am having at hand.
Finally, remember that I had forwarded instruction to my secretary on your
behalf to receive that money, so feel free to get in touch with Mrs. Recheal Etu
and she will send the amount to you without any delay.
I beg you in the name of the most high to use at least 50% of the proceed to
put smile on the faces of the less privileged especially during this festive
season.
This is my utmost wish for this donation.
With best regards
Mr. Bon Adegome
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Anti-fraud resources:
