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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:
- "million 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)
- "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 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.
- frankmaha22@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Frank Maha" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frankmaha22@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 27 May 2017 17:51:38 -0700
Subject: Let Frank Know
Hello,
It is my pleasure to inform you that your name appeared in the list of beneficiaries this quarter not yet paid their approved inheritance fund by the Verification Bureau of the Ministry of Finance Cotonou, Benin Republic. Your fund has been approved for payment via certified bank check.
A certified bank check of Two Million Dollars has been issued in your favor payable via JP Morgan Chase Bank New York USA.
You are requested to contact MR. FRANK MAHA the Director of Foreign Operations Ministry of Finance Benin Republic with below information to enable him forward your certified bank check to you as soon as possible.
MR. FRANK MAHA
EMAIL: frankmaha22@gmail.com
Your payment reference code Number IS MTM/PTF/0041/17
You can send to him your full name, home address, telephone number and your payment reference code.
Do contact him now to avoid any further delay in your check delivery.
Regards,
JODY MARK
VERIFICATION BUREAU
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
BENIN REPUBLIC.
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Anti-fraud resources:
