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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:
- "(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.
- 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.
- mccainlorin@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "William C. Dudley" <waemuzone@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mccainlorin@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:04:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: YOUR OVERDUE PAYMENT BY CASH DELIVERY.
Federal Reserve Bank Of New York
33 Liberty St. New York, NY 10045-0001.
Attn: Beneficiary,
We have received a cable confirmation from the Bank Of Africa (BOA) for cash delivery of your Overdue Fund Payment. Please contact Mr. Mccain Lorin the Manager key dispatched officer of BOA on email: (mccainlorin@gmail.com) Direct Telephone Number: +229-98276262 for collection of your trunk keys. Also reconfirm your Postal address where you can receive an envelope parcel and your direct phone numbers to enable us proceed as soon as you confirm receipt of the trunk keys. Note that our Diplomatic Cash Payment officer Dr. Ken Lloyd will deliver to you immidiately you receive the keys.
We apologies on behalf of the West Africain Union & the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) for the delay and inconveniences this payment must have caused you all this years.
Thanks.
Mr. William C. Dudley
President and Chief Executive Officer
Federal Reserve Bank Of New York.
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Anti-fraud resources:
