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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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "rev.pastordavidvos77@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Doris George" <moneyman4live9@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrs.dorisgeorge@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 18:25:40 -0700
Subject: YOUR GREAT REWARD!!!!!!
YOUR GREAT REWARD!!!!!!
Dear friend.
I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting that fund
transferred under the co-operation of a new partner from Dubai.
Presently I am in Dubai for investment projects. I have not forgotten
your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those
funds despite that it failed us somehow.
Now, I am given you this sums due to your previous effort you
participated. You will need to contact my Pastor in Cotonou Benin
Republic.
NAME ; Reverend Pastor, David de Vos
EMAIL ; rev.pastordavidvos77@live.com
TELEPHONE NUMBER ; +22967241675
ask him to send you the total sum of 3.8MUSD (Three Million Eighth
hundred thousand dollar) it is in a ATM card, which I kept for your
compensation. Please make sure you Fill this FORM and send to him.
1. FULL NAMES:___________________________
2. ADDRESS:____________________________
3. SEX:____________
4. AGE:_______
5. MARITAL STATUS:_______________
6.OCCUPATION:____________________________
7. E-MAIL ADDRESS:____________________________
8. TELEPHONE NUMBER:_______________________
9. COUNTRY:________________
Regards.
Mrs. Doris George.
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Anti-fraud resources:
