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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- church.poboxouagadougou@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: awudu huga <mrawuduhuga1@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2015 13:52:23 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Mr Awudu Huga
Dear Friend,
My name is Mr Awudu Huga, I did not forget your past effort by trying to help me, now I want to tell you that i have succeeded in getting my funds transferred under the co-operation of a new partner from Paraguay.
MY FUND HAVE BEING APPROVED AND TRANSFERRED TO MY FRIEND ACCOUNT IN PARAGUAY I AM GOING TO PARAGUAY TODAY BY THE FIRST FLIGHT BY AIR FRANCE.
I DIDN'T FORGET YOUR PAST EFFORT IN HELPING ME DUE TO ONE REASON OR THE OTHER WE DIDN'T CONCLUDE IT. FOR YOUR INFORMATION I WROTE AN INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT ON YOUR NAME TO THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO ASSIST ME /I WROTE A DRAFT OF 900,000 USD/ NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND USD ON YOUR NAME.
I WILL NOT CONTACT YOU FOR A LONG TIME DUE TO BUSY SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENT.
KINDLY CONTACT MY FAMILY REV FATHER HE KNOW HOW TO SEND THE DRAFTÂ TO YOU.
Rev Father Klen Orji Email:
(church.poboxouagadougou@yahoo.fr)
Tele +226 61 41 24 94
NOTE:Rev Father dont know what is inside the seal evelope,you must not let him know that such amount is in the sealed envelope.
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