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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)
- "hundred thousand us 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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- +22993865292 (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.
- johnsmith.smith48@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "engelaw02 Gazeta.pl" <engelaw02@gazeta.pl>
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 09:40:16 +0200
Subject: CONTACT MY SECRETARY
Dear Friend,
I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting that fund
transferred to a Swiss account. I did not forget your past effort to assist
me despite the fact that it failed us somehow so I kept some amount for you
in my own appreciation for your compensation.
Now I want you to contact my secretary on the information below; Name: Mr
jerry kole
Email:((johnsmith.smith48@yahoo.fr)
phone number +22993865292
Contact him and ask him to send you the total sum of $1,500,000.00 (One
Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars)
in a certified international bank draft issued from UBS AG, Switzer land,
which I have kept for
your compensation.Contact him on this email:(johnsmith.smith48@yahoo.fr)
Best regards
ENGE LAW
Anti-fraud resources:
