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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:
- "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge amount 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)
- 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.
- sen.sanubell@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Sanusi Bello <ke747mw@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Sanusi Bello <sen.sanubello@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 01:09:04 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Your very safe account
 Hello,
Compliments of the day to you and your entire family. I am Sanusi Bello, the chairman Contract certification Committee, Ministry of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria. I am seeking for a very trustworthy foreign person to fully and sincerely co-operate with me in the transfer of huge amount of money into a very safe account.
This money was part of the contract awarded to some foreign companies which was duly executed and the contractors in that category have been fully paid. It will be mutually beneficial to both of us if you accept; I will use my power and position as the chairman of the above committee to include your name or your company’s name as one of the contractors/beneficiaries whose contract has been completed but awaiting payment. After you received the said funds in your designated account, we shall use part of the money to invest in properties or in any other lucrative investment opportunities in your country.
If you accept to do this business with me and receive the said funds into your bank account, you will be required to:-
(1) Assist in the transfer and receiving of the said funds into your bank account.
(2) Advise on lucrative areas of investment opportunities.
Please indicate your interest by sending your information as requested below into my secured E-mail: sen.sanubell@hotmail.com to enable me furnishes you with further information about this transaction.
1. Your Full Names:
2. Your Contact address:
3. Your personal phone number:
4. A scan copy of your international passport or Driver’s Lin.
Treat this with seriousness and confidentiality. Provided you are trustworthy and never intend or try to cheat me after you receive this funds in your account.
Sincerely,
Mr. Sanusi Bello
Chairman
Contract certification Committee
Ministry of Petroleum Resources
E-mail: sen.sanubell@hotmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
