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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.
- 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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- tomgold.gold@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. TOM MENASH" <mplazahotel@4u.com.gh>
Reply-To: tomgold.gold@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 3 May 2010 12:06:45 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: gold buyer
ATTN.DEAR COSTUMER
F.O.B: ACCRA GHANA
AU GOLD DUST
PURITY 85/// 22
QUANTITY: 450. Kg
ORIGIN: GHANA
Email:tomgold.gold@gmail.com
A GOLD FARMER THAT REPRESENTED SEVERAL SMALL SCALE GOLD MINING
CO-OPERATIVES IN GHANA WEST AFRICA . I HAVE THE POWER OF ATTORNEY TO
REPRESENT AND NEGOTIATE ON THEIR BEHALF. AT THE PRESENT TIME WE HAVE ( 450
) KILOS OF ALLUVIAL GOLD DUST IN STOCK FOR SALE.THE PURITY IS 85 kilograms
of 22+ OUR PRICE IS ACCEPTABLE PER KILO BUT WE CAN NEGOTIATE ABOUT IT. OUR
PRICE IS RELATIVELY MUCH CHEAPER - JUST TO ENABLE US ATTRACT FOREIGN
BUYERS/INVESTORS AND RAISE MONEY TO PURCHASE MINING EQUIPMENT.
THE EXPORTING OF THE GOLD TO YOUR DESTINATION WILL BE DONE BY A LICENSED
SHIPPING COMPANY e.g. (Excel Logistics Ghana Ltd), TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE
WHEN YOU ARRIVE or READY TO EXPORT WITHOUT YOUR ABSENT IN ACCRA-GHANA.YOU
WILL BE RECEIVING BY FAX/EMAIL EXPORT COST CHARGES FROM OUR SHIPPING
COMPANY. IF YOU ARE READY TO BUY, YOU STAND TO RECEIVE 1.5% DISCOUNT OFF
THE TOTAL SALES.
BEST REGARDS,
TOM MENASH
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Anti-fraud resources:
