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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- 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.
- rym598l@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- authentication advice you must reply directly to email: rym598l@gmail.com congratulations, dr. horst köhler eu minister of foreign (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Horst Koehler" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jr67641@yahoo.es>
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2016 12:25:59 +0100
Subject: The amount approved in your favour
Dear Sir/Madam,
As the former IMF Managing Director and the current EU Minister of Foreign Affairs, i deemed it necessary to supersede the success of pending payments for economic growth. I have officially authorized the final release of funds to outstanding payment beneficiaries and your approved amount is currently at the escrow department of the international paying bank, which must be credited into your bank account upon receipt of your current operative bank account coordinates.
Your payment is irreversible at this time because the beneficiaries that responded to this message are now celebrating their 100% achieved success, for remittance authentication advice you must reply directly to email: rym598l@gmail.com
Congratulations,
Dr. Horst Köhler
EU Minister of Foreign Affairs
President of Germany from 2004 to 2010.
Managing Director, IMF (May 2000-March 2004)
Email: HorstK@legislator.com
Skype: korstkh9
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Anti-fraud resources:
