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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:
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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 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.
- +22545231712 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- johncissepaul2014@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Bussiness Offer <bansalhi@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <johncissepaul2014@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2014 07:42:26 +0000
Subject: FROM: John Paul
FROM: John Paul
TEL: +225-4523-1712
FAX:+225-7778-3406
EMAIL: johncissepaul2014@gmail.com
Good Day,
I am John Paul working in the department of Fund Release Order with one of the prime banks here in Cote D'ivoire. Quite I know this letter may come to you as a surprise but take it like your own deal.
I am contacting you based on a business transaction involving a huge sum of money worth $18.5m from a deceased deposit account which originated from contract executed by the deceased with the ministry of
works and housing here in Cote D'ivoire of which on the process of transferring the money to him we heard of his demise that he was involved in the recently Tsunami incidence which occurred near northern Indonesia area where he died along with his family.Hence we involve you to authenticate this claim as the beneficiary. Meanwhile, his money has been signed for payment in my office before I will give order to the bank for final endorsement of his money as nobody knows what is going on except my assistant and me.
Below is the man's information.
Contract Sum: USD18,500,000.00 Million Dollars.
Contract number: FMA/FMF/3-X99/2003.
Payment Approval Nominal Code:will be given to you upon your response to partake.
On your response to assist, "strictly" do reply me directly at my private email id as indicated here: johncissepaul2014@gmail.com for more information about the transaction and i will be willing to offer 35% as management fee for your assistance towards this transaction.
Awaiting your response.
Regards
John Paul
N/B: Don't forget to include your direct telephone/fax number
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Anti-fraud resources:
