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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:
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- amoumouomanzongo01@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: AMOUMON OMAN ZONGO <idirsomangwogwosono@gmail.com>
Reply-To: amoumonomanzongo04@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 23:00:22 +0000
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE
From: Amoumon Oman Zongo (ECO BANK)
Bills & Exchange Manager
ECO BANK (ECO)
BURKINA-FASO WEST AFRICA.
TEL _+226 76 02 69 19
I am contacting you in regards to a business transfer of a huge sum of
money from a deceased account. I decided to contact you due to the urgency
of this transaction.
PROPOSITION;
I discovered an abandoned sum of $15.5M in an account that belongs to one
of our foreign customers who died along with his entire family. Since his
death, none of his relations has come forward to lay claims to this money
as the heir.
The bank cannot release the fund from his account unless someone applies
for claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in our banking
guidelines. Upon this discovery,
I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next of kin to the
deceased as all documentations will be carefully worked out by me for the
fund $15.5M to be released in your favour as the beneficiary's next of
kin. Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our
mutual business endeavor by furnishing me with the following;
Your name: .............................
Your country: ..........................
Your phone Number: ......................
Your Tel/fax: ............................
Your age: ................................
Your occupation: ......................
Photograph of yours with copy of your International Passport or driver's
license.............
Thank for your anticipated co-operation
These requirements will enable us file a letter of claim to the
appropriate departments for necessary approvals in your favour before the
transfer can be made.
I shall be compensating you with 40% on final conclusion of this project,
while 50% will be for me and 10% will be for our any expenses that may
come up. Your share stays with you while my own share shall be for
investment purposes in your country.
If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the
trust I have bestowed in you,
I await your urgent email. Reply me at via (amoumouomanzongo01@yahoo.com)
Best Regards,
Amoumon Oman Zongo
Bill & Exchange Manager
TEL _+226 76 02 69 19
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