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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:
- "courier company" (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.
- 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: brian william <brianwilliam42@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <intenationalpolice@qq.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2014 06:55:48 +0000
Subject: MESSAGE FROM INTERNATIONAL POLICE.
ZOGBO COTONOU
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE
BENIN REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA
MR. EDWARD JOHN PAUL
Email: intenationalpolice@qq.com
Phone Number: +22968945517
Attention Beneficiary:
My name is .Mr.Edward John Paul the inspector general of police Benin Republic,This is to inform you that the government of this country Benin Republic are rewarding you with the sum of $8.5Million U.S dollars as one of the scam victim Compensation fund.We where able to get your email through those that extort money from you when the police got them arrested , One of them gave us your email address.
The president of this country His Excellency Mr. Yayi Boni has set aside the sum of $8.5 Million U.s Dollars by ATM Card to be send to you through DHL Courier Company,the maximum amount you will be withdrawing each day is $10.000 U.S dollars,the ATM Card will enable you cash your funds to any ATM Machine center in your country,We thereby have made a concrete arrangement with the DHL Courier Company for a safe delivery to your door-step once the beneficiary meets up with the demand of the conveyance.
Below is your ATM Secret Pin Code (7712), Note that all the delivery fee has been paid on your behalf to enable you to withdraw your fund to any ATM Paying Machine Center in your country.So you advice to contact inspector general of police Benin Republic Office immediately with your full information for delivery of your ATM Card and also to enable our office confirm that you are the real owner of this Email address to avoid any mistake or wrong delivery of this funds.
Your Full Name.......
Your Country........
Your City............
Your Occupation...........
Your Age/ Sex............
Your Direct Telephone Number.........
Your Mobile phone number.........
Your international passport..........
The Amount You Lost..........
Contact our Office with this information below for more information and for quick deliver of your ATM Card.
God bless.
Mr.Edward John Paul
call our office telephone number once you receive this message for more information.
FROM HEAD QUARTER POLICE STATION
ZOGBO COTONOU
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE
BENIN REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA
MR. EDWARD JOHN PAUL
Email: intenationalpolice@qq.com
Phone Number: +22968945517
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