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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:
- "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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Albert E. Jacobs" <palumbo.maria3@alice.it>
Reply-To: classicalbert131@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2015 18:22:32 +0100 (CET)
Subject: YOUR 2.5 MILLION ATM MASTER CARD NOTIFICATION
Awareness Director
Ministry Of Finance Benin Republic
(International Monetary Fund foreign Department)
Cotonou Benin Republic.
P.O BOX 6695
+229 983 77 095
I am the awareness director albert E. Jacobs this to inform you that your
ATM CARD worth 2.500,000,usd has being signed today by Ministry of Finance you
are asked to reconfirmed your mailing and receiver's information as soon as
possible to enable DHL make delivery of your card.Reconfirm the receiver's and
mailing information as stated below
Receiver's Name___
Address: _________
Country: _________
Phone Number: ____
ID Copy:______
Best regards
Mr.Albert E. Jacobs
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Anti-fraud resources:
