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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:
- "into your nominated bank account" (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 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.
- samuelkofi431@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Samuel Kofi <fmd-kharkiv@ukrpost.ua>
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2015 20:09:18 +0300 (EEST)
Subject: Best regards,
Good-day
My name is Mr. Samuel Kofi, The Branch Manager of a Financial Institution.I need your
assistance to validate your name in our Bank System to enable the Bank transfer the sum of
$10.5Million unclaimed fund into your nominated bank account to your account for onward
investment ( Hotel industries and Estate building management) or any profitable business in
your country and I will give you 40%, for your assistance.
My questions are?
1. Can you handle this project?
2. Can I give you this trust?
If Yes then I will appreciate your timely response to me.; To commence this transaction, I
require you to immediately indicate your interest by a return mail for more details.
Please reply me on my private email address:( samuelkofi431@yahoo.com )for more details.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Samuel Kofi
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Anti-fraud resources:
