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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "with absolute secrecy" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- 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.
- kofiattamills_s@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Samuel Koffi Attah Mills" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <contactinfomail@y7mail.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:30:29 -0500
Subject: Re: Greetings Dear Friend ( From Samuel Koffi Attah Mills)
Dear Sir/Madam
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus christ.
I apologize if the contents in this mail are contrary to your moral ethics, which I feel may be of great disturbance to your personal life, But please treat with absolute secrecy and personal. I pray that this email reaches you in the best of health.
I am Samuel Kofi Atta Mills 24years of age, i'm the son of the late President of Ghana Professor John Evans Atta as i will like to discussed a mutual business transaction that would benefit the both of us as this is 100% risk free.
This is of utmost important and need urgent attention and if interested do Kindly reply strictly to my personnel Email: (kofiattamills_s@yahoo.com.hk) As above
Now my wish is that peace, grace and mercy which is Christ Jesus our Lord be with your family and friends.
A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Thanks and God bless as i look forward to hear from you Asap.
Yours Sincerely,
Samuel Kofi Atta Mills
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Anti-fraud resources:
