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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:
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.
- cocacola.branchcompany@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: John Henry <"www."@gaea.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: John Henry <cocacola.branchcompany@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2017 21:22:15 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Good Day...
Good Day...
I am Mr John Henry, manager of Coca Cola Company Benin Republic Branch.
On behalf of the Coca Cola management I want to inform you that your Coca Cola award Win of 10.622.921.22, which was signed and issued by Honorable Chief Martin Nogal Managing director Coca Cola Company United Kingdom (UK), has been shifted to Benin Republic Coca Cola branch Company due to UK compensation with Benin Republic Government.
You are advised to contact your diplomatic agent Dr Donald Mike and give him your required Name, address and phone number so he can deliver your package today before your delivery documents expires.
Note that he has been at the airport for days waiting to hear from you and might cancel your delivery if you do not contact him soon.
Here are his details:
Phone number:
Email address: cocacola.branchcompany@yahoo.com
Name: Hon Donald Mike
Contact him as soon as possible before your delivery is cancelled.
Signed____
Mr John Henry
Coca Cola Company
Branch Manager Benin Republic.
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Anti-fraud resources:
