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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "ms.rose_angel@qatar.io" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Adams Winta <adamswinta333@verizon.net>
Reply-To: ms.rose_angel@qatar.io
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 03:15:23 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONTACT MY SECRETARY ASK HIM FOR YOUR ($2.5Million us dollars)
Attn Dear Friend,
I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting that fund. Now, I want you to contact my secretary in benin republic west African on the information below.
NAME IS Ms.Rose Angel.
ADDRESS No 3370 AKPAKPA DOME R.D
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC W AFRICA.
OFFICE E-MAIL CONTACTS
ms.rose_angel@qatar.io
Ask him to send you the total sum of ($2.5Million us dollars) in A CASHIER'S CHEQUE, which I kept for your compensation. so contact him now ok,
forward this informations as detailed bellow to him:
NAME:.............
AGE..............
ADDRESS.............
OCCUPATION:........
PHONE:..............
FAX:..........
COMPANY:.........
COUNTRY.......
My Best Regards
,
DR.Adamas Winta.
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Anti-fraud resources:
