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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- 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.
- frankmadou01@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Gold Bar and Diamonds Offer <frankmadou123@gmail.com>
Reply-To: frankmaoudgoldbars@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2023 07:59:52 +0000
Subject: Gold Bar and Diamonds Offer
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Dear friend,
We have gotten your name and address as gold and diamond buyer as We have
200 kg X 22 karat gold bar and Uncut rough diamond 2,200 Cts of
non-bankable condition for sale to any interested buyer.
We are therefore contacting you with the intention of entering into a long
term business partnership in both Dore Gold Bars and diamonds.
We will offer you 3% commission if you are not a buyer and connect us to
buyers.Before reply we only want to make sure that you really want to buy,
not just sending emails without any results.
You can contact me through this my alternative email address;
frankmadou01@gmail.com , Let me have your secured mobile phone number to
open up verbal communication with you.
I await your immediate response.
Best regards,
Frank Madou
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Anti-fraud resources:
