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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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Desmond Okorowo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <desmond.okorowo@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2014 16:12:19 -0700
Subject: BUSINESS INTEREST
I am contacting you personally cos I have a proposal for partnership as I have interest also in investing in your country.
I need to briefly let you know what exactly I need from you and terms.
I am a procurement officer in a government owned refinery. We are about to sign a 6 months 2 million barrels per month crude oil supply contract. I already have suppliers that have made quotations but i want to present you as the broker to the contract. The contract documents will be sent to you for signing and the main supplier and our refinery. The commission is 5$ per barrel. This means total of 10million dollars per month totaling 60 million in 6 months. This broker commission is normally paid out to the facilitator (broker) and as i have known the direct supplier, I can comfortably present you as we have normally paid such commission in the past and its legally obtainable in crude oil supply deal.
The fund when transferred will be shared 50% for me, 30% for you, 5% for any expense to be incured and 15% for any charity home. This means that if we have to invest the fund together, the share capital will be same.
The supply contract is ready and i will send to you for perusal and signing as we work out investment interests.
I will want us to arrange a meeting. I have a very tight schedule. Will you be able to come to Cotonou, Benin Republic? We need to meet face to face for discussions. Coming to meet you in your country will not be possible for me very soon.
Let me quickly know your resolve.
Thanks.
Sincerely,
Mr. Desmond Okorowo.
Cotonou - Benin Republic.
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Anti-fraud resources:
