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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:
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- 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.
- johna.amadi@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Martins Moon <barr_udo1@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: joseph.dousou@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:14:29 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Attn
Attn
The management of this organization have received your mail and have a memoround of understnding consign this matter to make sure you rececive your fund, meanwhil a siginal instruction came from the international monetary fund (IMF) and intruct that all scamed vitcim most receive this compansantion fund within 10 days after 10 days it will be cofiscate as uncliamed fund .
Now to prove this organization we have to chanel your fund direct to europ through diplomatic agent. all you have to do is to send us your house address and any nerest air-port to you and also any identification passport picture, phone number for easy comunication.
Immediately we receive all we have to start working towards the delivery less then five working days you will received your fund
contact person Mr John.Amadi
E-mail johna.amadi@yahoo.com
Tel +229 9941-1980
city cotonou
country Benin
as you contact Mr John Secretary to the manager foreign remittance he help to get your fund.
yours in service
Mr Martins moon
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Anti-fraud resources:
