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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- honjbenjamin@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: mrsjanewatts <mrsjanewatts@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 13 May 2015 00:54:01 -0700
Subject: Re:Contact My Secretary Joshua Benjamin Immediately.
Dear friend,
I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting that fund
Now, I want you to contact my Secretary Joshua Benjamin on the
information below: Name: Joshua Benjamin ,Ask him to send you the
total sum of $2.8 Million US Dollars in a International Atm Visa Card,
which I kept for your compensation fund.
So contact him immediately on his e-mail :( honjbenjamin@hotmail.com)
and Call my Secretary with this Phone Number: +234-8160057102. also
send him the below information to enable him deposit your Atm Visa
Card to DHL COMPANY and note that the only fee you have to pay to DHL
COMPANY is $185 Dollars for DHL Delivery charges.
Try your possible best to send him your full contact information to
enable him move down to the DHL OFFICE to send it to your address once
you send my Secretary the delivery charges.
1. YOUR FULL NAME: ___
2. YOUR ADDRESS: _____
3. YOUR AGE: _________
4. YOUR COUNTRY: _________
5. TELEPHONE NUMBER: ____
6. OCCUPATION: _________
Regards,
Mrs. Jane Watts
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Anti-fraud resources:
