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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.
- 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.
- mrseverin.traore@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Severin Traore <mr.johnsonmiller.info@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrseverin.traoree@outlook.fr
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2015 09:50:35 -0700
Subject: Dear Your Partnership .
Dear Your Partner!
. Greeting to you and family at Large.
I know we don't knew each other from any Adam but is the same blood
running in our vain also from one Creator. I want to used this media
contacting you in respect of an investment proposal in your country. I
am a Government top official here in the republic of Benin and due to
the banking tradition of my country, any civil servant that has held
any key high position as a man is forbidden to operate a foreign
account. That is why I require your assistance:
I am using this opportunity to partner with you to transfer (US$8.2M)
Eight million Two Hundred United States dollars to your account . The
above sum resulted from an over-invoiced contract, executed,
commissioned and paid During the Past administration by a foreign
contractor.
I want you to kindly send me your contact details also your mobile
phone numbers for heart to heart discussion to enable us proceed
urgently. As soon as I hear from you your Co-operation I will send you
more details to proceed for the transfer and my personal information
foward to you , Please reply to this email:
mrseverin.traore@yahoo.ca , your immediate response would be
appreciated for your full co-operataion.
Your Sincerely
Mr Severin Traore
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