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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "cheques " (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- tonymensah2010@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: TONY MENSAH <italvibration@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: tonymensah2010@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 1 Aug 2010 21:30:40 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Get back to me!
Dear friend,
How are you and your family? I am Tony Mensah and i work with the
AFRICAN ART GALLERIES as a regional sale's manager.
My company made alot of sale's at the 2010 FIFA world cup in South Africa
to different foreigners and most of them have paid in U.S travellers cheques
and money orders. Which take's up to fourty five working days to be cleared
here in africa.
We are looking for part time Representatives that will help cash these T.C & M.O
and deduct 10% for there effort and wire our ballance to us via money transfer.
Please note, this will not affect your regular occupation and no upfront payment.
All you need to give are the following information. Kindly send them to this address:
tonymensah2010@hotmail.com
(1) Full name
(2) Mailing address
(3) Age, Sex and occupation
(4)Tel. Home & Office
(5)Country
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Anti-fraud resources:
