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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:
- "mikraig@zenithcompensation.us.tf" (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.
- 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.
- cowrrie@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Corrie Wright MD <cowrriie@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mikraig@zenithcompensation.us.tf
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 09:12:35 -0500
Subject: You have an unclaimed fund.
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I am writing to let you know that you have a pending compensation. I saw
your information when I went over to Nigeria to claim my compensation.
I will advise you to contact Mr. Michael craig to assist you with the
release and transfer of the fund to you. Find below his contact
information.
Name: Mr. Michael Craig
Email: mikraig@zenithcompensation.us.tf
Tel: +234-802-297-1447
You really have to stop dealing with those people that are contacting
you and telling you that your fund is with them, it is not in anyway
with them, they are only taking advantage of you and they will dry you
up until you have nothing. The only money I paid after I met Mr. Michael
Craig was just $420 for the paper works, take note of that.
I wish you the best of luck.
Corrie Wright MD
cowrrie@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
