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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- ",000,000" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- eddytanko@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: <eddytankok@centrum.sk>
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:11:16 +0100
Subject: Await for your reply
Attention:
I am very sorry for contacting you through this way without a subsequent notice. I got your contact information today as a result of my desperate search for a competent and reliable Foreign Investor who can work with me without the consultation of any third party. I work with a Security Company here in the Federal Republic of Ghana and I have discovered an unclaimed consignment Trunk Box in our Possession containing the sum of $10,000,000.00 Million U.S Dollars.
I have carried out a systematic investigation and discovered that the consignment was deposited without a specified Beneficiary.
Hence, I am contacting you in this regards with utmost confidence so that you can work with me and receive this consignment in your Country.
I want to assure you that this deal will be completed as quickly as possible immediately i receive your acceptance correspondence. Meanwhile, I want you to confirm your Direct contact information to me via to my private email address (eddytanko@gmail.com).
I sincerely await for your response
Mr Eddy Tanko.
eddytanko@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
