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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:
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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.
- cceo.sosa.constltd@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Willy Consultant Company Ltd <k.divid2233@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ceo.sosa.constltd@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 14:11:17 -0700
Subject: INVITATION FOR TENDER
Government of ECOWAS Tender In West Africa
Office ECOWAS in West Africa
+233 263 17 4198
Willy Consultant Company Ltd.
There is an ongoing Tender in the Ecowas Procurement Commission here
in Ghana for the supply of various Items This Tender is open to
Foreign suppliers whose company products meet international standards
and also willing to bid for a tender and if your not interested to bid
please do not reply.
Terms of Payment: If the Order is given to you, An upfront payment of
80% (T/T) will be made to your account, while 20% will be paid before
shipment. This Projects is for companies who are very ready to apply
for Tender bids and have understanding the meaning of bidding for
contract supply and you will need to do official tender registration
with the Ecowas Procurement Commission when you are submitting your
bidding documents
for approval before award. I am a commission agent.
Kind Regards,
Mr.Willy Sosa,
+233 263 17 4198
Willy Consultant Company Ltd.
E-mail: cceo.sosa.constltd@hotmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
