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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)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- mr.akassammahama02@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Akassam Mahama <mr.akassammahama002@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.akassammahama02@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 07:43:49 -0800 (PST)
Subject: (I need your immediate assistance and trust)
(I need your immediate assistance and trust)
Good Day Please Read,
Dear Friend,
Please i want you to read this letter very carefully and I must apologize for barging this message into your mail box without any formal introduction due to the urgency and confidential of this issue and I know that this message will come to you as a surprise.
I am Mr.Akassam Mahama, the director of the accounts & auditing dept .at the African Development Bank Ouagadougou-west Africa .(A D B) With due respect, I have decided to contact you on a business transaction that will be beneficial to both of us.
I have a business proposal in the tune of ($5.5m) we shall share in ratio of 40% for you and 60% for me. If you agree to this business Please for further information and enquiries feel free to contact me through this my e-mail:(mr.akassammahama02@gmail.com) or call me immediately for more explanation and better understanding.
I am waiting for your urgent response!!!
Thanks and remain blessed.
Mr.Akassam Mahama
+226 76621875
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Anti-fraud resources:
