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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:
- 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:
- "million 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)
- 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.
- +2348067390701 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
Fraud email example:
From: "ikobo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ikobogrants2009@w.cn>
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 20:46:24 +0100
Subject: DELIVERY
Our Ref: IKB/NGN/M2F01
Your Ref:
iKobo is a company that specializes in money transfers. With them, you can send money to any country with your Visa or MasterCard. The recipient gets the transfer put onto a secured Visa debit card which can be used worldwide at ATM locations for cash withdrawals. This debit card, which is reusable, is shipped to the recipient.
As part of our expansion and promotional package for the fiscal year 2009, we are pleased to inform you that your parcel containing the sum of $2.8 Million US dollars which has been made available to you through an iKobo Visa card.
We have concluded plans to deliver this card to you as soon as possible.
You are to send us the following details:
FULL NAME:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:
MARITAL STATUS:
SEX:
AGE:
You are also to immediately pay the delivery charges of US$120 immediately so as to ensure prompt delivery.
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Copyright©2001-2009 iKobo, Inc.
+2348067390701
https://www.ikobo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
