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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Arthur Magnus" <alby566@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2015 13:36:54 -0700
Subject: CHARITY PROJECT
I am compelled by the important nature of a project at hand to contact you so that we can explore avenues for co-operation. I am Barrister Arthur Magnus, a legal Practitioner from Benin. I am currently working with the family of a deceased client who left a large amount of money in the bank here for charity. In his Will which I have the copy here with me, he shared his wealth judiciously among his family members and local welfare organizations, but requested specifically that the money in the bank be allocated 100% to a foreign organization or an individual trustee who will utilize the money strictly for charity. Dr.Nduva my deceased client believes that the fund will be better utilized by a foreign trustee since there will be no interference or manipulation by his family members or local authorities here.
My reason for contacting you therefore is to solicit for your cooperation in this project so that your name or that of your company can be used as the appointed foreign trustee to whose care this money will be transferred. There is absolutely no risk involved as we have the copy of the Will and Letters of Administration to back the transaction. But you must also understand that a transaction of this nature and magnitude requires absolute understanding. If you accept to offer your cooperation for this project please reach me urgently through my email address. In your response, kindly provide me with your private contact telephone number for prompt communication.
Best Regards,
Mr. Arthur MagnusRue Gouverneur Bayol01 B.P. 1280 RP Cotonou- Benin.Tel: +229 94562925
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Anti-fraud resources:
