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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- instructionfbi@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: fbi agent john Pikes <emma.okpo1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: instructionfbi@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 8 Nov 2011 03:49:45 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE FBI Direct line +229 6464-5247
Good Day.
We have been watching you since last year until this 2011 we understood that you don want listen to our advice and you have to know that we are also working to make sure your ATM CARD which are suppose to be delivered to you and also bear in mind that what ever you emailing us will be forward to the court today.
Also we are hereby to notified by the federal bureau of investigation Porto Novo department of the insult you imposed on them by failing to comply by their requirements since last year till now.
Your full residential address has been forwarded to us for your immediate arrest today to face your charge but I deemed it fit to give you one more chance to save yourself from this mess but as for now I don’t understand your plan.
We have been told that you have failed to dance by the rule of the FBI which will warrant 2 years jail sentence. Now I john Pikes the special agent in charge of the FBI Albany department I am giving you 24 working hours to effect the payment of the $72.00 usd. To the FBI in republic of Benin (fbisecurity) with the information written below:
Â
Receiver:Chinaka Nze
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Test Q: When
Answer: Today
Amount: $72.dollars
Control Number.........
You have to try as much as you can and make this payment today so that your ATM CARD will be delivered immediately to your destination address tomorrow morning.
You have to stop every transaction you are communicating with other organization now to avoid delay on the processing of your ATM CARD.
Note that you? if you fail to stick with my advice today or any delay will lead us coming directly to your home address at any time today ,so try and dance by the rule and get back to me with good understanding ASAP.
Special Agent in Charge; email:(instructionfbi@yahoo.fr)
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