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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:
- "mobilization fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- 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.
- uduma_felix1@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: FELIX UDUMA <williams_mensah02@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: uduma_felix1@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 10:25:42 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: WE ARE LOOKING FOR SUPPLIERS
Attention: Sir/Madam,
WE ARE LOOKING FOR SUPPLIERS
We are interested in your product and to do business with you or your company. Please can you furnish us in full details about the standard of your products.It will be appreciated more if you can give us with detail specification to avoid making a wrong choice of product.Let us know if you can handle this supply, your product is needed here.
Please note that the ministry makes an advance payment(Mobilization fee) of 70% of the contract sum by telegraphic transfer and an irrevocable L/C of 30% to be confirmed by your bank before supply.
Tender is open to all eligible foreign contractors from eligible source countries as defined in the guidelines of the procurement Board of the Republic of Ghana.Get back to me for more details. I am a commision agent.
Reply directly to my email: uduma_felix1@yahoo.com
Call me on: +233 24 669 9147
Thanks,
Felix Uduma.
Links International Ltd.
Plot 124 Michael Samora Rd,
Assylum Down,Accra.
Email:uduma_felix1@yahoo.com
+233 24 669 9147
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Anti-fraud resources:
