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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:
- 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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Smith Akpo Donco" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <smith_donco@cooltoad.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2011 04:03:29 -0500
Subject: Your assistance will be appreciated.
Dear Sir;
I am Smith Akpo Donco executive Director in one of the prime bank in Ghana West Africa. My intention of writing you through email is because it is the fastest medium of communication other than phone.
For years, there is abandoned account at our bank; we need your assistance to enable us release this fund to you in your country for investment purposes by making you the sole heir to the abandoned account.
If you are interested; do get back to me for more details and to facilitate the process of the release of the fund to you. If you are willing to assist/partner with us, I will appreciate it if you will get back to us so that we will send you details.
I will be expecting your urgent response.
Best Regards,
Smith Akpo Donco.
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Anti-fraud resources:
