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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)
- "officialhostweb@globo.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms.Gerarldine Emmanuelo." <humphhenryb@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: officialhostweb@globo.com
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:11:40 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Dear: Beneficiary;
African Union Payment Réhabilitation
Centre,
Quartier BP 1104
Foun-Foun Tokpa.
E-mail;officialhostweb@globo.com
Tel; +229 20523628.Fax;
+229 20802889.
Cotonou Benin Régional
office.
Dear: Beneficiary;
A constituted Board has been inaugurated to restate and commence
immediate payment on unpaid beneficiaries who did not receive their previous UNITED NATIONS AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK MICRO FINANCE RELIEF SCHEME PROGRAMME.
Square to the suspected internet violations by hoodlums and other corrupt ghost
operators.
Further payment henceforth is on Government instant swift remittance in
conjunction with BCEAO.This system is deemed to stop further financial harm.
Only recipients of this email are eligible to contact our African Union host
remittance department Dr.Kingsley MEKITREL; with your names and contact address
for your beneficiary details on the above address.
MS. Gérardine Emmanuelo,
Secretary.
Dept of International
Relations African Union.
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Anti-fraud resources:
