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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- reverend.moses@tlen.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: your detailed address <info.dept@fastwebmail.it>
Reply-To: reverend.moses@tlen.pl
Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2011 23:05:27 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Make sure you contact him now
Dear Friend,
In compensation to the transaction and investment invitation that i previously sent to you and was honour with your kind response, I have credited an ATM Visa Card with the sum of €800,000 Euros as Compensation in your name for your humility on the transaction invitation that i previously sent to you which you honour with your kind response.
In my search for a trusted one that will send the ATM to you as my departure was impromptu and am going for treatment, I handed the ATM card to ( Reverend Moses Edondo Auxillary Bishop of Cotonou ) at the Holy Cross Cathedral sisters convent. Kindly Contact him with your detailed address where to send your ATM Card by Courier service the ATM and also your mobile or Telephone for facilitated communication. The email and Telephone number of Reverend Moses Edondo are (reverend.moses@tlen.pl ) and ( +229 99101155) respectively. Feel free to Discuss with him the modality to send your Compensation ATM to your address as soon as possible.
Presently, I am in Malaysia for investment project and treatment with my own share of the money under the advice of my new partner and will not return until next year so just let me know you got the ATM as i might not be on line quite often. Make sure you contact him now to avoid deactivation of your ATM due to delay.
Yours Faithfully,Barrister Linda HitiUnited Nation Ambassador.
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