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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- loraonyi01@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Office File <officefile----1237@att.net>
Reply-To: loraonyi01@hotmail.fr
Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2011 07:20:49 -0800 (PST)
Subject: CONTACT MRS LORA NOW!!!
Dear Sir/Madam,
I wish to inform you that all the fees for your funds $1.2 Million usd has been Paid this month 20/2/2011 2:30 Pm afternoon because the manager of Universal Banking & Finance Company, told me that before the funds will get to you it will expire.
So i told him to cash the $1.2M DOLLARS,to deliver to you through Laposte Courier company and all the necessary arrangement of delivering of the $1.2M DOLLARS in cash was made with LAPOSTE COURIER COMPANY.
Contact the Laposte Company Manager Mrs Lora M.Onyi on her Email Bellow.
ATTN:Mrs.Lora Mercy Onyi.
Email:loraonyi01@hotmail.fr
Do not hesitate to contact her as above today because your box was already
there for delivery.Let me know as soon as you reached her.
Have a nice day with your family.
Mr.Larry Morris.
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Anti-fraud resources:
