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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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: Markus Oseni <osenimarkus1@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: osenimarkus@indamail.hu
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 05:51:29 +0530
Subject: Business Affairs
--
Hello my Dear friend,
My name is Mr. Markus Oseni the Deputy Governor Financial Sector
Surveillance.
Last year I made an arrangement with one Mr. Michael McNulty a citizen
of the United States of America in the state of Wisconsin to hold on my
behalf the sum of USD 15.2Milion to be used for investment, the money
was slated to move in two phase of USD 7.5Milion at each phase. We
worked together and obtained all the documents needed to transfer the
first 7.5Milion but as soon as the fund was confirmed in his bank
account he disconnected his phone line 715 694 5761 and disappeared. He
was staying at #45, Peterson Rd,Black River Falls,Wisconsin.
My tenure as the Deputy Governor Financial Sector Surveillance Central
Bank of Benin will very soon and I don't want the opportunity I have
here in making myself rich to be wasted hence I am contacting you to
work with me and keep on my behalf for investment the balances sum USD
7.7M. As a civil servant still under services of my government I am
barred from operating foreign account and
I would not deposit this amount in my local account here because I had
declared my asset immediately I was appointed into my present position.
I will make you my investment manager after a commission of 2.2Milion
from the 7.7Milion for your kind help and I pray I will not be
disappointed again. I seek for your corporation and sincerity towards
this business.
Please contact me immediately via my e-mail: ( osenimarkus@indamail.hu
)telephone(+229-6762-2798): with your complete names and numbers (Phone
and Fax) and I will get back to you explaining areas you felt you want
to know better.
Anticipating your positive response.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Markus Oseni
Tel: +229-67 62 27 98
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