419 scam: "NELSON JOSEPH" <nelsonjoseph12@yahoo.co.nz> CONTACT: Mrs. Selena Hassan

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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.
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
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.
- hassan_selena@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "NELSON JOSEPH" <nelsonjoseph12@yahoo.co.nz>
Reply-To: hassan_selena@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 29 May 2010 08:37:12 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONTACT: Mrs. Selena Hassan

Hello my good friend.

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family?, You may not
understand why this mail came to you.But if you do not remember me, you
might have receive an email from me in the past regarding a
multi-million-dollar business proposal which we never concluded.I am using
this opportunity to inform you that this multi-million-dollar business has
been concluded with the assistance of another partner from Thailand who
financed the transaction to a logical conclusion.

I thank you for your great effort to our unfinished transfer of fund into
your account due to one reason or the other best known to you.But I want
to inform you that I have successfully transferred the fund out of my bank
to my new partner's account in Thailand that was capable of assisting me
in this great venture. Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust
worthiness You showed during the course of the transaction.I want to
compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of $1,200,000.00.

I have left a certified international bank draft for you worth of
$1,200,000.00 cashable anywhere in the world. My dear friend I will like
you to contact my secretaryr Mrs. Selena Hassan, on her direct email
address at: hassan_selena@yahoo.fr for the collection of your bank draft.
I authorized her to release the Bank draft to you whenever you contact
her regarding the draft. At the moment, I'm very busy here because of the
investment projects, which I and the new partner are having at hand.

Please I will like you to accept this with good faith as this is from the
bottom of my heart,Also comply with Mrs. Selena Hassan's directives so
that she will send the draft to you without any delay.

CONTACT: Mrs. Selena Hassan
My Secretay, Cotonou, Benin Republic,
Her email address: hassan_selena@yahoo.fr

Therefore, you should send her the followings:

(1). Your full Name
(2). Your addres where to deliver your cheque
(3).Your telephone number/and fax
(4). Your correct e-mail addres.

Thanks and God bless you and your family.
Hoping to hear from you after you received your cheque so that we can
share the joy together.

NELSON JOSEPH

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam