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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- daswani_mensah@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mensah" <mensahdaswani011@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 17:31:43 +0000
Subject: Hello Dear Good Day
Hello Dear Good Day
How are you doing and i hope you enjoyed your day and season over
there with your family and friend and I know it will take you by
surprise to receive this information because emails.
My name is Mr. Daswani Mensah I am in control of US$15,000,000.00
deposited in my bank by the Late Libyan President, Muammar
Gaddafi.The fund is being held under a Non-investment account without
the Gaddafi Family's name as the late Gaddafi instructed that the
funds be kept TOP SECRET until he decides what to do with it.
As the Gaddafi’s Account Officer and manager of this branch of
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK Ghana LTD, I plan to activate the account with
your name as the original depositor and then process outward
remittance of the funds to you.
You will get 30% of the total funds for your role plus investment of
my portion under a documented working agreement. Please get back to me
with your response alongside your physical contact address/telephone
number and we will move quickly to consummate the deal. Reply to
daswani_mensah@yahoo.com
Regards,
Mr. Daswani Mensah
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Anti-fraud resources:
