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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:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- 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.
- postoffice2018@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR JOHNSON FRANK <"www."@dune.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: MR JOHNSON FRANK <POSTOFFICE2018@YAHOO.COM>
Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2017 15:49:02 +0900 (JST)
Subject: CONTACT POST OFFICE FOR YOUR ATM CARD
CONTACT POST OFFICE FOR YOUR ATM CARD
ATTN; DEAR,
This is Mr.JOHNSON FRANK , I have registered your ATM CARD to the
POST OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC so that they will Post it to your home address
and I believe your current address is still the same. Your total amount
in the envelope is $15.8 Million USD and the POST OFFICE assured me that
there will be no stoppage until it get to your hand. I want you to
contact them and re-confirm your address where to Post it.
Contact Mr.frank raymond
03 BP 1000,COTONOU
BENIN REPUBLIC.
E-mail: (POSTOFFICE2018@YAHOO.COM)
Telephone +229 66267275
Your full information for the Postal.
FULL NAME: ==============
COUNTRY: ==============
CITY: ==============
CURRENT HOME ADDRESS: ===========
TELEPHONE/CELL PHONE NUMBER.=========
AGE/OCCUPATION: =============
SEX/A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION: ===============
the manager informed me that it will take good 3 days to get to your
house and your Envelope accumulate. Your Current address has to be
reconfirmed when contacting the post office. Call me at +
229 66267275 as soon as you receive
your Envelope.
Thanks & remain blessed.
MR JOHNSON FRANK
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