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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)
- "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 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.
- +22993206276 (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.
- officefile1@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Prince Mark <markben44@hotmail.fr>
Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:01:05 +0100
Subject: Good News From The Prince
Dear Friend, I am very happy to inform you about my
success in getting the fund transferred
with the help of Mr.Masayuki Hirato, a new
partner from Japan, my thanks to your
earlier assistant,hence I want you to
contact my secretary through the below
Information.
Name : Greg Numan, E-mail:(officefile1@myway.com)Telfax: +229-93206276
Ask him to send you the international
certified bank draft which I kept for your
compensation.the amount valued is total
sum of (1, million euros).Meanwhile I have
giving him the instruction on your
behalf,so you can contact him now with
your receiving address and phone number to
enable him send it to you.Do not fail to
call on him immediately you receive this
message,and remember to update me as soon
as you receive the bank draft.
RegardsPrince Mark Ebeniza
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:
