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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:
- "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- christbellkalu@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Christbell Kalu <agentchristbell@gmail.com>
Reply-To: christbellkalu@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 19:17:38 +0100
Subject: TRADE ENQUIRY
Dear Sir,
We will like to use this opporunity to introduce our company to you as
a leading marketing and distributor agent in West africa and we assist
producer and Manfacturer to get their product know into west africa
market,we are ready to go into business partnership with your
interest in entering into a business relationship with me,I am a
commission agent, Normally I receive 2% commission of the total
invoice from companies whom I introduced to the main buyers. I am not
the main buyer
Therefore we will like you to send us your Full product quotation list
of FOOD AND BEVERAGES PRODUCT ,and price on CNF here in BENIN
REPUBLIC.adding our 2% commission so that i can forwarded the
information to the end buyer for their confirmation and approval.
--
Best Regards
Mr Christbell Kalu
57 vog cine Missebo Market Road
WEST AFRICA-REPUBLIC DU BENIN
TEL:+229-995-972-17
EMAIl:christbellkalu@gmail.com
Skype:christbell.kalu1
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Anti-fraud resources:
