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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:
- 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:
- "million united state 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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- 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.
- adimineco@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Eco Bank <ecobankplczone2@gmail.com>
Reply-To: adimineco@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 09:08:14 +0100
Subject: Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
Attention.........
This message is coming to you from Economic Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) West Africa based in Republic Du Benin, Please we are contacting you
to inform you that we have arrested those scammers that were collecting
money from you for over six months now.
Republic Du Benin government are compensating you with sum of $1,7million
united state dollars, kindly get back to us also note your phone number
including your current address are needed.
Contact Person: Gaberial Osakwe.
Email: adimineco@gmail.com
We are waiting for your urgent reply.
Yours In Service
Inspector Williams David.
Public Officer( P.R.O.)
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Anti-fraud resources: