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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:
- "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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- ericetagro@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Eric Etagro <sarafinaayigo@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ericetagro@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2014 16:56:49 +0100
Subject: Can I trust you !!
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Hi Dear,
My greeting goes to you and the family! Please I am contacting you for
a lasting business relationship and I prayed that this proposal will
meet you in good health and also will merit your sense of
understanding too. I am Master Eric A. Etagro, 20Years Male from Cote
D'Ivoire. But, I am living in Benin Republic for safety of my life.
Please I have this sum of $4.8 Million (Four Million Eight Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars) I inherited from my late father (Dr.
Andre Etagro) before his sudden death. I really need your sincere
assistant to transfer this money to your country and I will relocate
to your country and establish a lasting business relationship with
you. Please get back to me if you're willing to help me to handle this
project. I am willing to offer you 25% of the money after the
transfer. I wait for your urgent response.
Email me via: ericetagro@gmail.com
Thanks and remain blessed!!!
Sincerely,
Eric Etagro
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Anti-fraud resources:
