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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- pstdanielahossou@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Patrick Morgan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pstdanielahossou5@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2021 23:57:06 +0100
Subject: URGENT MESSAGE
Dear Friend,
How are you doing?I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting those fund transferred with the help of a new partner from Saudi Arabia,Presently I'm in India for an investment projects.I have decided to compensate you with the sum of (US$750,000.00) Seven Hundred And Fifty Thousand United States Dollars this is just to prove you that i am sincere. I did this simply to show you that it is good to do good things and help especially during this COVID-19 Pandemic.Therefore you should contact my pastor in Cotonou Benin Republic with the following information below,
APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES
Name: Pastor Daniel Ahossou
Email: pstdanielahossou@gmail.com
Do ask him to send you the ATM CARD with the sum of (US $750.000,00) Seven Hundred And Fifty Thousand United States Dollars which I kept for your compensation, however he will attend to you without delay as he was duly instructed.Please do let me know immediately if you receive it so that we can share the joy together after all the suffering at that time.Stay Safe.
Barrister Patrick Morgan
Founder Morgan Group Consult
Benin Republic
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Anti-fraud resources:
