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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:
- "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.
- 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.
- +229986066 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.JENNIFER JOHNSON" <"www."@abelia.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs.JENNIFER JOHNSON" <post.office.71@mail.ru>
Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2017 19:14:32 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATTN; DEAR
ATTN; DEAR,Â
This is Mrs. JENNIFERÂ JOHNSON , I have regÂistered your ATM CARDÂ to the
POST OFFICE BENIN REPÂUBLIC so that they wiÂll Post it to your hoÂme address
and I believe your cuÂrrent address is stilÂl the same. Your totaÂl amount
in the envelope is $1Â5.8 Million USD and tÂhe POST OFFICE assureÂd me that
there will be no stopÂpage until it get to Âyour hand. I want you to
contact them and re-cÂonfirm your address wÂhere to Post it.
Contact Mr. John Ben,
03 BP 1000,COTONOUÂ
BENIN REPUBLIC.Â
E-mail: (postoffice29Â1@gmail.com)
Telephone +229 986066Â78
Your full information for the Postal.
FULL NAME: ==========Â====
COUNTRY: ============Â==
CITY: ==============Â
CURRENT HOME ADDRESS:Â ===========
TELEPHONE/CELL PHONE ÂNUMBER.=========
AGE/OCCUPATION: =====Â========
SEX/A COPY OF YOUR IDÂENTIFICATION: =======Â========
the manager informed Âme that it will take Âgood 3 days to get to your
house and your EnveloÂpe accumulate. Your CÂurrent address has to be
reconfirmed when contÂacting the post officÂe. Call me at +229986Â06678 as soon as you Âreceive
your Envelope.Â
Thanks & remain blessÂed.
Mrs.JENNIFER JOHNSON
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Anti-fraud resources:
