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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- 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.
- mrzongokomi@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR ZONGO KOMI <mrzongokomi@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrzongokomi@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2015 22:48:11 +0000
Subject: CAN WE DO THIS BUSINESS TOGETHER?
>From Mr.Zongo Komi
United Bank
Dear Friend;
This message might meet you in utmost surprise. However, it's just my
urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact you for this
transaction. I am a banker by profession and currently holding the post of
Chief Operating Officer and Accounting unit of the bank.
I have the opportunity of transferring the left over funds ($24million USD)
of one of my client who died along with his entire family on 31 July 2000
in a plane crash. why I have to do this, I don't want the government of my
country to take over the fund Due to the economic problem going in the
country and You can confirm the genuineness of the deceased death by
clicking on this web site below
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
However, I am inviting you for a business deal where this money can be
shared between us in the ratio of 60/40%. All I need is for you to set up
an online account in your name with Alwatany bank and I will have the money
deposited into this account of yours to enable you complete the transfer
online to your designated bank account in your home country; Online banking
is the safest way of doing business of such value no matter where you are
located. It is as simple as it looks and as soon as the fund is transferred
to your account, I will put away all documents to cover any trace of the
fund.
I know you will be very much interested, kindly provide me with the details
below.
First Name.............
Surname................
Address...............
City........................
State/Province.......
Country..................
Telephone No........
Occupation ......
Date of Birth (date/m/yr) ......
Copy of International Passport Or ID card.....
Further details will be provided when next I hear from you; remember this
transaction is risk free as I would never jeopardize my future and that of
my family by getting involved into what is illegal.
Have a great day
Yours sincerely,
Mr.Zongo Komi
E-MAIL mrzongokomi@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
