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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 beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- godwinjohn020@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Aandra Ben" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <godwinjohn020@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 24 May 2017 07:23:51 -0600
Subject: $7.9 Million USD ATM Master card Payment
Attn:Dear Beneficiary,
It is my pleasure to inform you that UN Office have agreed to reward
you
with sum of $7.9 Million and the payment has been arranged through
MasterCard ATM which is the latest instruction from (António Guterres),
UN
Secretary General. Therefore contact our Agent Barrister Godwin John
now
E-mail: him and send your full postal details:
(1Your full name........
(2)Deliver Address:.......
(3)Phone Number:......
(4)Occupation:............
(5)Gender:............
(6)Age .....
Note this compensation including a Victims and international businesses
that failed due to Government problems etc. CONTACT EMAIL: (
godwinjohn020@yahoo.com)
tel : +229-68632521
Regards
Mrs.Aandra Ben
United Nations Compensation Commission
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Anti-fraud resources:
