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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (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.
- mrfrankobele@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Marian Gambo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <umarbello1020@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2012 09:17:36 -0400
Subject: Please reply immediately to avoid misdirection of funds.
FROM THE DESK OF THE : Hon. (Mrs.) MARIAN GAMBO
PAYMASTER GENERAL OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
Shehu Shagari Way, Central Area
Lagos - Nigeria.
Attention: Beneficiary
ARE YOUR STILL ALIVE?
We have gathered on a good authority to all our payment outlet here that you have died and since been buried and before your demise, you have authorized all payments to your firm or to you to be paid to Mr. Clems Anderson of Englewood in the USA ACCOUNT.
NAME: Mr. Clems Anderson
BANK NAME: Bank of America
Country: U.S.A.
ACCOUNT ABA #: 063111596
NO Swift Code.
to receive all cash payment on your behalf with Bank of America. Please we need your confirmation to this effect to enable us commence the due process of transfer to this account provided.
Please reply immediately to avoid misdirection of funds.
For more enquiries you can call Mr. Frank Obele on mrfrankobele@yahoo.com now.
Thanks
Mrs. Marian Gambo
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Anti-fraud resources:
