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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)
- "million 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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- frankrobert112@aim.com (AOL Instant Messenger; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "FROM BARRISTER FAITH JOHNSON:" <lindaruna125@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "FROM BARRISTER FAITH JOHNSON:" <daniel_victor888@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 23:53:16 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: ATM Department Officer Benin Republic!!!
Attn: Dear Friend
A cash grant award of an ATM Card containing the sum of US$2.700, 000.00 Million Dollars from the ATM Card Award Promotion has been awarded to your name this morning and you kindly contact ATM Management Officer Cotonou Benin Republic for the releasing of your ATM Card with the ATM PIN CODE NUMBER that you will be using for withdrawing of your Fund in any ATM MACHINE IN YOUR COUNTRY.
Contact them immediately with your direct details:
Full Name
Full Address
Age
Occupation
Phone number
Country Name and city
Your Driver Licensees
ATM Managing Officer Mr. FRANK EDE ROBERT
Email: frankrobert112@aim.com
Office Telephone: +22998055213
This man will be waiting for you today to contact him immediately with your home Address where this ATM Card will be sending to you in your country before ending of this February as this is a wonderful something that God did for you this 2015.
BARRISTER EBELE JOHNSON
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Anti-fraud resources:
