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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "00,000.00" (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.
- ak2net@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Marketting <ffahon@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:10:28 +0700
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Re=3A_Where_have_you_been=3F?=
My Good friend,
Please accept this token offer from me as a compensation for your past effort. I've succeeded in getting the funds transferred with the cooperation of a new partner from India.
You should contact my secretary Ben Cahen with your current address. Inform him to send you the ATM (Automated teller Machine) card i raised in your name few days ago popped with ($1200,000.00). It is your compensation for all your past efforts and attempt to assist me in the past transaction though you could not endure to conclude the transaction with me. Please don't fail to use part of the funds for charity.
Please let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy together after all the sufferings at that time. At the moment, I'm very busy here with my new partner regarding the Investment project here in India.
Name; Mr.Ben Cahen
EMAIL: ak2net@hotmail.com
Regards,
Mike Johnson.
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Anti-fraud resources:
