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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- 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.
- mrkarimzongoz@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Karim Zongo" <karimzongo78@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrkarimzongoz@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2020 08:34:36 +0200
Subject: Hello
Compliment of the day,
I am Mr. Karim Zongo Have a Business Proposal of $10.3 million For
You. I am aware of the unsafe nature of the internet, and was
compelled to use this medium due to the nature of this project.
I have access to very vital information that can be used to transfer
this huge amount of money, which may culminate into the investment of
the said funds into your company or any lucrative venture in your
country.
If you will like to assist me as a partner then indicate your
interest, after which we shall both discuss the modalities and the
sharing percentage.
Upon receipt of your reply on your expression of Interest I will give
you full details,
on how the business will be executed I am open for negotiation. You
should forward your reply to this private email id
(mrkarimzongoz@gmail.com) Thanks for your anticipated cooperation.
Note you might receive this message in your inbox or spam or junk
folder, depends on your web host or server network.
Thanks’
Best Regards
Mr. Karim Zongo
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Anti-fraud resources:
