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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:
- ",500,000" (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 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.
- mrkokomrkokowolou@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: olekoko wolou <wolouolekoko@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2015 22:05:05 +0000
Subject: re
Hello,
I want to use this opportunity to inform you that you share the same
surname
with my late client who deposited the sum of $5,500,000 at a bank here in
Togo. He died with his wife in a car crash some years ago in this
country.
If interested, i would make you the beneficiary of this money legally and
according to the request of the bank. This amount will be transferred to
you. We will both share this amount and also have some for charity.
Please contact me urgently at (mrkokomrkokowolou@gmail.com) or +228 96279021.
Thank you,
Attorney Koko Wolou.
Wolou & Associés Bhatt Juridiques
Sakode BP 1730
Togo.
Telephone; (00228) 96279021
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Anti-fraud resources:
