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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:
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- jkweku02@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: John Kweku <johnkewku112@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <jkweku02@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2014 08:50:36 +0000
Subject: PARTNERSHIP
Good day,
I am making this contact based on my Department needs an individual/company who can help us with the transfer of a contract entitlement.
This amount (US$14.5M) represents the balance of the total contract value executed on behalf of my Department by a foreign contracting firm. This amount we have gotten approval to transfer abroad to any foreign bank account.
This transaction is 100% safe and legal in all areas, we are only handicapped in the circumstances, as the Ghana Civil Service Code of Conduct does not allow us to operate offshore account hence your importance in the whole transaction.
Your share as compensation in the US$14.5M will be 30%; I and my colleague 60% while 10% for taxes and miscellaneous expenses.
We have reposed our confidences in you and hope that you will not disappoint us. Kindly send me your direct telephone/fax number to enable me reach you with further details upon your acceptance to help us.
I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.
Yours faithfully,
John Kweku
<jkweku02@yahoo.com.ph>
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Anti-fraud resources:
