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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- vhenry.98@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Henry Vincent <merynstela@alice.it>
Reply-To: vhenry.99@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2017 14:56:02 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Urgent attention please.
From the Desk of GODWIN AND KETZLER ESQ.Assistance Financial Principal Attorney of FederationAddress; 98-99:/ Midenbour Azadors Cotonou du Benin RepContact Telephone number 229-65191188Please Contact me on his email: (vhenry.98@yahoo.com)
Attend: YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED.
Are you alive of dead? We received several emails from one Mr. Frank Harold who narrated to us about the auto car accident you had 2 weeks ago. Mr. Frank made us to understand that you are in hospital for treatment but there is no hope of your recovery.
He stated that he is your business associates and your next of kin whom you have chosen and permitted to inherit all your properties. He is contacting the bank base on your Inheritance payment fund with the Accrued Interest valid USD$15,700,000.00 that was in bank for years . He requested that the payment should now be transfer into his own personal account as he stated below.
Account Name Mr. Frank HaroldCitibank Banamex USA2029 Century Park East Los Angeles, CA 90067Phone: 1-800-222-7534Routing Number: 122233645Account Number: 5944130210
We request your confirmation before we can process this transfer to Mr. Frank Bank Account. This is to avoid releasing your unpaid Inheritance Fund to wrong person because Mr. Frank is too eager and ready to follow every instruction to have this Fund into his account.
If you did not have auto accident and you did not permit Mr. Frank to claim your money, kindly reply this message with your full contact information so we can process the release of the $15.7 million to you via our trusty bank in America.
Waiting to hear from you Urgently !RegardGODWIN AND KETZLER ESQAssistance Financial Principal Attorney of Federation
Henry Vincent.
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