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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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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 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.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- moondavid55@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "David Moon" <info@lee.org>
Reply-To: moondavid53@aol.com
Date: Wed, 06 Mar 2019 05:01:40 -0800
Subject: Your urgent response needed
Your urgent response needed,
Dear fund beneficiary , I have been receiving series of email notification from the federal ministry of finance and the Mr president over your delay in receiving your compensation fund from me.
Note that if nothing is done in next 48 hours regarding the fee for procurement of the your custom non inspection tag I will have no other option than to hand your $10.5 million USD over to the federal government , because it seems you are not ready to receive your long awaited fund from me.
Receiver's Name== WOOD NAMO
Country== Benin Republic
City== Cotonou
Country Code== 00229
Amount....... $55
Country Benin Republic.
City Cotonou
Country Code 00229
Mind you that you are about losing your compensation fund from me if nothing is done ASAP.
Re-confirm your information urgent
Full Name...............
Correct phone number ...........
Delivery Address .............
Your Nearest International Airport.............
Get back to me ASAP
Email: moondavid55@aol.com
Diplomat David Moon
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Anti-fraud resources:
