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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:
- ",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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "financialbankbr@hosanna.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "FINANCIAL BANK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <financialbankbr@hosanna.net>
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 20:54:58 +0200
Subject: HAVE YOU BEEN INFORMED?.
BP 2700, Cotonou Benin Rep.
Primary SIC: National Commercial Bank
Primary NAICS: Commercial Banking
Description: Finance Banking
E-mail: financialbankbr@hosanna.net
Attn: Beneficiary,
We have been trying to get in contact with you since couple of months because your INHERITANCE FUND valued at US$7,000,000.00 is due for transfer to you as our late customer ENGINEER MIKE UGO instructed us when he was alive. You are adviced to e-mail us your contact home address and your banking details to confirm that you are the rightful owner of this fund before we proceed with the transfer.
Sincerely,
Mr. Doudou Salif
For Management.
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Anti-fraud resources:
