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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:
- "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)
- "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "there are practically no risks involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- 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.
- mrjosephboateng20@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Joseph Boateng <mrjosephboatengo@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrjosephboateng22@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2015 00:01:17 +0000
Subject: Hello Dear,
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK OF GHANA,
ACCRA GHANA.
Hello Dear,
My name is Mr.JOSEPH BOATENG .I am the regional manager of Standard
Chartered Bank of Ghana Tarawa branch in the western region of Ghana.
I came to know you in my Private Search for a reliable and reputable
person to handle this confidential transaction. I write you this
proposal in good faith.
I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and me,
as the regional manager of the Standard Chartered Bank it is my duty
to send in a financial report to my head office in the capital city
Accra at the end of each business year. On the course of 2013 business
report.
I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made ($10.5
million Dollars) which my head office are not aware of and will never
be aware of. I have placed this funds on what we call escrow call
account with no beneficiary. As an officer of this bank I cannot be
directly connected to this money, so my aim of contacting you is to
assist me receive this money in your bank account and get 30% of the
total funds as commission.
There are practically no risks involved, it will be a bank-to-bank
transfer and all I need from you is to stand and claim as the original
depositor.
email..mrjosephboateng20@yahoo.com
i need your information's so that we can start the transfer.
your mobile number
your email
your occupation
your bank Account
Best regards
Mr.JOSEPH BOATENG.
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Anti-fraud resources:
