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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)
- 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.
- grace.saiba@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Frederic Katuke" <frederric@micso.fr>
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 01:54:07 +0200
Subject: Recieve Your ATM CARD!!!
Dear Friend,
How are you with your family? I hope fine. I'm happy to inform you about my
success in getting those funds transferred under the cooperation of a new
partner from India, Presently I’m in India, meanwhile I didn't forget your
past efforts to assist me in transferring those funds despite that it failed
us some how. Now contact my secretary in Benin Republic West Africa through
her e-mail id ( grace.saiba@yahoo.fr ) ask her to send you the ATM CARD
worth’s sum of ($750,000.00) which I kept for your compensation for all the
past efforts and attempts to assist me in this transaction. so feel free and
get in touch with my secretary Mrs.Grace Saiba she will send the ATM CARD to
you.
Regards,
Mr. Frederic Katuke
________________________________________________
Message sent using Micso France Webmail
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Anti-fraud resources:
