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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- sirucfelix_ucf@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: john mmelo <mrjohmmmelo009@hotmail.fr>
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2007 11:20:32 +0200
Subject: COMPENSATION FOR YOUR PAST EFFORTS.
My Dear Friend, This is to thank you for your efforts and attempt to help me transfering those funds despite it falls somehow. I understand that your hands were tied. I want to inform you that I have succeeded,the money has been transfered into the account provided by a newly found friend of mine in South Korea. I decided to compensate you for your past assistance and commitments. I have dropped an International Certified Bank Draft of {$950.000 usd} on your behalf concidering your efforts to assist me that time. Please contact my Secretary in BENIN-Republic,His name is Mr Felix Uchenna through his E-mail contact below: {sirucfelix_ucf@yahoo.fr}. Presently I am in South Korea for investment projects with my partiner as I do intend to establish some business concerns here,and possibly buy some properties. Let me know when you received the cheque so that we can share the joy together after all the difficulties we encounterd that time. Take Care. Best Regards,
Engr. John Meloh.
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