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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" 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.
- an100@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Akeem Kelvin" <alex10001@outlook.fr>
Reply-To: consult.iman100@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 16:50:06 +0400
Subject: COMPENSATION!!!
Dear Friend,
I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred=
under the co operation of a new business partner from Paraguay. he assiste=
d me in moving the Gold and box of money to his country for investment as p=
lanned. Presently I'm in Paraguay for treatment and investment but meanwhil=
e, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transfer=
ring those funds despite that it failed us some how and I have left your co=
mpensation fund in a VISA ATM Card with my Secretary in Benin Republic. Now=
contact my secretary in Benin his name is Alicia Marble: Email: consult.im=
an100@gmail.com . Ask him to send you the VISA ATM Card containing the to=
tal of 800.000.00 Euro which I kept for your compensation for all your past=
efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.
I appreciated your efforts at that time very much. so feel free and get in =
touch with my her and instruct him where to send the VISA ATM Card containi=
ng the total of 800.000.00 Euro to you without any delay, Remember that I h=
ad forwarded instruction to Him on your behalf.
My Best Regards,
Dr. Bello Usman, C.E.O
=
Director Overhit et Fils
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Anti-fraud resources:
