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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- 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.
- paddi.daniel@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "accra@bog.gov.gh" <paddi.daniel@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2015 08:14:17 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: RE: VERY URGENT
DEAR BENEFICIARY
I am a computer programs specialist with Central Bank Of West African States. I work with the bank as a foreign credit officer. On Monday November 29, 2014, I came across your transaction file here in the bank which is marked 683933FX, it contains your fund credit details hidden in an abandoned drawer of my predecessor. I took time to study the contents of disk and discovered it has records of your transactions here with approval payment of $12 million.
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The most annoying thing is that my predecessor involved in Mafia gang business and use your unclaimed fund to do private businesses like project financing, Real Estate and other financing projects with profits and interests converted to his own assets while giving excuses to you thereby delay the fund in the bank. Your fund is being used for this purpose not in the bank transaction records as disclosed on the disk that is why the bank here could not wire your funds to you.
I will need your coperation to recover the fund for you as the fund is presently in Germany. The only thing I ask of you is to help me assist me when the fund is transferred into your account to enable my wife undergo a breast cancer surgery and chemotherapy at Monklands Hospital, Monkscourt Avenue AIRDRIE ML6 0JS United Kingdom.
There is no harm or problem that is associated with the fund transfer because all the papers and approvals from International monetary fund have been accorded to the fund. Do not write me on my work email address. I shall disconnect my work email address after we establish communication and ready for the credit into your account. Write me here paddi.daniel@yahoo.com. Do not mention your bank details; don’t mention your address or anything personal to you.
Â
Paddi
Central Bank of West African States
Cotonou, Benin Republic
00229 988 206 47
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Anti-fraud resources:
