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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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Moore A. Agatha" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <m.alisha889@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2012 05:12:47 +0200
Subject: Over-Due Payment Compensation Funds
Attn Please!!!
Am very sorry, I couldn't attention this letter directly to you because of the fact that I have fire rage in my office and part of you file got burnt ,making it impossible for me to source your name and other details concerning you, I could only locate some part of my diary why I have personal information and noticed I wrote your email the even though the fire affected my diary but I managed to locate your email address, hence am contacting you to let you know that a Philanthropist left the sum of US$2.750Million with our bank ( bank of Africa) here in Cotonou Benin Republic and asked that we transfer it to you.
The Philanthropist said it is a compensation for your business dealings with him in the past. Your are to contact me back with your full details so that I can direct you to the bank officer who is in charge of your payment in order to receive your total fund of US$2.750Million Two Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars.
Sincerely
Mrs. Moore A. Agatha.
Secretary
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Anti-fraud resources:
