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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- frank.akakpo3@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Frank Akakpo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frank.akakpo3@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2010 08:23:48 +0100
Subject: I am a Gold Dealer In Ghana
MARKETING CHAMBERS,
THE MARKETING CO- ORDINATORS AND
SUPERVISORS, OBOUR RIVERS MININGS.
It's my pleasure contacting you to inform you about our product'' Alluvial Gold Dust". I am a Gold Dealer here in Ashanti Region,Ghana.We are having in stock right now about 350kg of Alluvial Gold Dust and advertising to seek buyers or assisting in helping us to
do this business in your location.
Our F.C.O is described as follows:
Commodity.................. Au Metal
Quantity....................350kg
Quality.....................22+ carat
Price.......................$20,000 US Dollars/kg
Shipment
/Cargo.......................By Air
Package......................Export Carton Case.
Terms and Condition:
I will be very grateful if you can help us to buy or to contact a buyer for your commission will be very huge and attractive or even you can come down here and do inspection of the goods properly before we commence shipment / Cargo.
If agree to follow the lot with you to your country and get paid after the final assay and refinery in your location, please indicate your interest urgently.
for more information contact us at (frank.akakpo3@gmail.com) we shall wait for utmost response.
Regards,
THE CURRENT MARKETING SUPERVISOR AND CO_ ORDINATOR FOR OBOUR RIVERS MININGS LTD GH.
Mr Frank Akpoko
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Anti-fraud resources:
