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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "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.
- premiersecurites09@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Cruz" (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 18 Nov 2012 12:33:05 +0100
Subject: Delivery paid.
My dear,
I have been waiting to hear from you in regards to the draft of $800,000 eight hundred thousand united states dollars your share of the business which was successfully concluded but you have not replied to all my recent emails. Well I have deposited the draft with Premier Securities here in Benin Cotonou, because I will be traveling out of the country and will not be back for the next three months. I have decided to pay the delivery charge.You have to contact Premier security Company to know when they will deliver your draft.I have paid for the delivery charges,but the only money you are to pay them is the keeping charge of $98.00 This is their Contact Address Contact below:
E-mail: premiersecurites09@gmail.com
Address: C/122 Degakon Cotonou
Company: Premier Securities Benin.
This is the registration number PC0124475BN you are to contact them with.I gave them your delivering address but you have to reconfirm it to them again to avoid any mistake in the delivery. Let me know as soon as you receive your draft.
Regards,
Cruz.
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Anti-fraud resources:
