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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- paul6yaya@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Paul Yaya <paul6yaya@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Paul Yaya <paul6yaya@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 14:50:33 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dear Good friend.
Dear Good friend.
How are you? I wish to approach you with a request that would be of immense benefit toboth
of us. I am a solicitor at law and the personal lawyer to late Dr Stephan ,until his death. He is an Engineer by profession and had worked for Mobil Company in Lome Togo.
I have contacted you to assist in recovering the fund valued at USD10,500,000 left behind by my client in his account before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Security Finance Firm where this amount were deposited. All I will require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement.
Please i look forward to receiving your response so that i can give you the details
NB;Please reply directly on my private email; Barrister (paul6yaya@yahoo.com) for clarifications
Regards
Hon. paul yaya
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Anti-fraud resources:
