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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:
- "you will be given 30%" (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 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.
- kofiansah522@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Kofi Ansah" <globalmaxcourier2002@gmail.com>
Reply-To: kofiansah522@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 07:23:27 -0700
Subject: Your Urgent Attention Is Highly Needed Thanks!
ECO Bank GHANA
Accra Ghana
Greetings,
I have interest of investing in your country as well as to seek for your
services in a private and confidential matter.
I am Mr. John Kofi Ansah, the Director with ECOBANK GHANA.
Refer to the website: (http://www.ecobank.com/
boarddirectors.aspx?cidt047).
On my routine inspection I discovered a dormant domiciliary account with a
Balance of ($45,000.000.00 Million US. Dollars}.
I write to seek your assistance in transferring this fund to your country
through legal means of this fund for Investment.
I am proposing to make this transfer to a designated bank account of your
choice in your country for investment.
At the conclusion of this transaction, you will be given 30% as your own
share, 60% will be for me and 10% will be set-aside to repay back any
expenses made by you in the process of the transaction.
Let me know if you can handle it. Reply by email id: kofiansah522@gmail.com
Regards,
Mr. KOFI ANSAH.
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Anti-fraud resources:
