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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:
- "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
- "keep this confidential" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
- 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.
- +22508837254 (Cote d'Ivoire, 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.
- madama55@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- madama559@yahoo.co.jp (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: <madama559@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 05:00:58 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Urgent Assistance Needed
All the information concerning this fund will be giving to you as soon as you show your concern and promised to keep this confidential.having read your profile with great interest.I want to establish with you in your country.I await your urgent response.You should include your direct telephone number,
Thanks,
Mrs.Mariam Adama
+225 08 83 72 54
madama55@yahoo.ca or madama559@yahoo.co.jp
NB/I TRIED TO CALL YOU BUT YOUR LINE WAS NOT GOING THROUGH
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YOSOGAI-WARI SOFTBANK MOBILE
Anti-fraud resources:
