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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)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- josephosterman1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr James Cotter" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <josephosterman1@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2015 09:12:20 -0800
Subject: Fund Transferred Successful....
Dear Friend,
I am very happy to inform you about my success in Getting those funds Transferred: I want you to contact My secretary on the information below. So that he can Send you your compensations Fund of $400,000.00 United States Dollars that I left with him to send to you. Please do Get in touch with him with his below Information's, On how to send you the total sum Of (400,000.00) Four hundred thousand United States Dollars which I kept for your compensation.
NAME: Mr Joseph Osterman
Email: josephosterman1@gmail.com
Telephone: +234-8072-705-766
Contact him now Meanwhile, Reconfirm Your Information's to him as to enable him send your funds to you.
Full Name................
Delivery Address.........
Country..................
Occupation...............
Phone Number.............
Fax Number...............
Age......................
sex......................
NOTE: -You are also required to send to the verification of Identification to my secretary should be a scan copy of your Driver's License or International Passport for proper verification and authentication.
Thanks and have a Great working Day.
Regards,
Dr James Cotter.
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Anti-fraud resources:
