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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:
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Barr Nicolas Mitchell" <perm1.unattorney.to.ghana@gmail.com>
Reply-To: perm.unattorney.to.ghana@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 05:41:19 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: fund transfer
Sir
Immediate Fund Transfer
Once again I write to inform you on behalf of United Nation Legal Council
and African Union, I am Barr Nicolas Mitchel Un legal Attorney to Ecowas
West Africa under United Nation legal Council.
Your name has appear on our vetting system that your fund has been
approved for immediate transfer,we are here to govern humanitarian benefit
against fraud and scam, if you need any Inquiry or legal information here
in west Africa do let us know we will be in position under policy of
united nation legal council to respond to your alert of your fund
successful payment.
We are here to protect you against humanitarian fraud and allied matters
in any way of your dealings within the banks in West African countries
especially in Nigeria/Ghana regards to your fund transfer.
Our consultancy/legal charges are free of cost because we are being
govern by United Nation legal council on our assignments of your immediate
payment to avoid unemployment market to defraud you.
Should you have any difficulties for verification and information that you
might need contrary to your fund payment dealings or whatsoever in West
Africa, kindly Feel free get back to me Un legal council we are here to
protect your interest.
Pls kindly get back to this office for immediate information on release of
your overdue fund with appropriate office not unemployment market .
This office can be reach on 233 24 6419784.
Regards
BARR NICOLAS MITCHEL
UN ATTORNEY TO ECOWAS
ECOWAS HQS ACCRA GHANA
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UNITED NATION LEGAL COUNCIL
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Anti-fraud resources:
