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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:
- "million 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 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.
- revnelsonkoffi1@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "REV.NELSON KOFFI." <imprinsloo@telkomsa.net>
Reply-To: "REV.NELSON KOFFI" <revkoffinelson@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:27:11 +0200 (SAST)
Subject: CONTACT REV NELSON KOFFI FOR COMPENSATION OF $10.5MILLION
Unpaid-Beneficiary.
To effect the release of your compensation payment valued at 10.5 million dollars you are advised to contact the director of payment and delivery officer Rev.Nelson Koffi this email (revnelsonkoffi1@hotmail.com) and phone number +233269146731 On contacting him do provide him with the following information:
Your full Name...
Your Address:................
Cell Phone:...................
Occupation.................
Alternative email..........
This payment is from the united nations and the Ghanaian federal government.
Yours sincerely,
Javier Uriarte Fenley EAR-03-91
CC: Federal Bureau of Investigation
CC: National Central Bureau of Interpol
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DISCLAIMER NOTICE:
Information contained in this email is confidential and
intended for the addresses only. Any dissemination,
distribution, copying or use of this communication without
prior permission from the address is strictly prohibited. If
you are not the intended recipient of this communication,
please delete it permanently without copying,disclosing or
otherwise using its contents, and notify the sender
immediately.
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Anti-fraud resources:
