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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:
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "lome togo" (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.
- 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.
- ecotrustg@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "=?UTF-8?B?TXIgQWJyYWhhbSBGbGFuZGVycw==?=" <salivan@kraevid.com.ua>
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2017 08:12:15 +0200
Subject: =?UTF-8?B?WW91ciBhZHZpc2UgcGxlYXNl?=
My name is Mr Abraham Flanders, I work with financial
institution here in Lome Togo. My late client Mr. Ruslan Who bear the same last
name with you made a numbered time (fixed) deposit valued at (Five Million, Five
Hundred Thousand US dollars) at my branch. I need your assistance to stand in as
the next of kin to my late client and Claim this money because you have the same
last name with him. The process is simple. We will apply with your name as His
next of kin. I will use my position in the bank to guarantee the successful
execution of this transaction. Please do kindly contact me through my private
email address ( ecotrustg@gmail.com ) for more details, thanks
Mr A .Flanders
Email: ecotrustg@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
