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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:
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Maffro Kojo <duyongping@cp.com.cn>
Reply-To: <timark01@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 08:47:16 -0500
Subject: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
Attn: Please
As regards to my previous emails to you, Your fund has been approved and ready to be transferred to the below stated information as instructed by you in your affidavit submitted to the bank;
Matthew Ritz
Bank Information
TCF Bank
9400 S Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60620
Account Name: Matthew Ritz
Account Number: 1442340976
Routing Number: 271972572
Swift Code: TCZBUS33XXX
Your confirmation is urgently needed so as to effect payment immediately as Mr. Matthew claimed that you gave him the authority to claim the fund on your behalf.
I look forward to your swift response.
Yours sincerely,
Maffro Kojo
Director,
Iternational Remittance Dept.
Africa Development Bank.
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Anti-fraud resources:
