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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 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.
- +22993489858 (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.
Fraud email example:
From: <reedali2005_2009@centrum.cz>
Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:27:49 +0100
Subject: Please pray for me while you contact my Pastor for your fund
My Dear,=20
=C2=A0
=C2=A0
I am Mr.Reed Ali former director of (Sonacop) Benin Republic,Petroleum Co=
mpany.I am presently in Spain where I am under going treatment.=20
=C2=A0
I want you to contact my Pastor in Benin Republic,his name is Pastor.Chri=
stian Daniel using his email address (pastorchrisdan7@ubbi.com) or teleph=
one +229 93 48 98 58. Instruct him to send you the sum of $1,500,000.00, =
One Million,Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars which I kept for =
you.=20
=C2=A0
I cannot predict what will be my fate by the time you Will receive the fu=
nd so I ask that you remember me in your daily prayers.=20
=C2=A0
=C2=A0
Mr.Reed Ali
=C2=A0
Anti-fraud resources:
