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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:
- 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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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 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.
Fraud email example:
From: MR STEPHEN IKPOZA JR <asdcynthia@alice.it>
Reply-To: mrstephenikpoza@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 2016 13:39:40 +0100 (CET)
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS
I write to inform you that ECO bank has received the note and order to commence
the transfer of your funds Sum of $3,700,000.00 USD to you.
You have to note that this is foreign transaction not local transaction. We
have contacted our head office to commence the transaction and we just received
the transfer order from our head office.
We shall effect the payment into your account immediately you meet with our
transfer formalities.
We have to open a domiciliary account on your name with our bank here through
which the total funds can be transferred into your account without delay.
This will cost you $79.00
Call back for details and your response asap
MR STEPHEN IKPOZA JR
+22998620089
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Anti-fraud resources:
