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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:
- ",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)
- "cheque " (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.
- +22993790091 (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.
- mark_john000@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:43:21 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?DEAREST_FRIEND,?=
DEAREST FRIEND,
I AM BARR KEN BARRY AND I AM VERY HAPPY TO INFORM YOU ABOUT MY SUCCESSIN GETTINGTHAT FUND TRANSFERED.
NOW I WANT YOU TO CONTACT MY SECRETERY ONTHE INFORMATION BELOW AND RECEIVE YOUR COMPENSATION OF $1,500,000.00 FROM HIM:
NAME....MR MARK JOHN
EMAIL: ( mark_john000@hotmail.fr)
CALL ON THS +229-93790091
SEND HIM THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO PROVE YOURSELF TO HIM:
YOUR FULL NAME;...............................
ADDRESS:.................................
COUNTRY:.................................
AGE:.........................................
OCCUPATION:.................................
NUMBER:.............................
NOTE THAT IF YOU DID NOT SEND HIM THE ABOVE INFORMATION COMPLETE,
HE WILL NOT RELEASE THE CHEQUE TO YOU BECAUSE HE HAS TO BE SURE THAT IT IS ME.
ASK HIM TO SEND YOU THE TOTAL SUM OF ($1,500,000.00)USD CASHIER'S CHEQUE,
WHICHI KEPT FOR YOU.NOTE ALSO THAT I WILL NOT BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE FOR NOW
BECAUSE IAM CORRENTLY AWAY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE WITH MY SHARE ANDE BUSYTILL ABOUT SIX MONTHS TIME OR A YEAR.
REGARDS,
BARR KEN BARRY
---------------------- ALICE N°1 de la RELATION CLIENT 2008*--------------------
Découvrez vite l'offre exclusive ALICE BOX! En cliquant ici http://abonnement.aliceadsl.fr Offre soumise à conditions.*Source : TNS SOFRES / BEARING POINT. Secteur Fournisseur d.Accès Internet
Anti-fraud resources:
