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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:
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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.
- maxofori00@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Max Ofori" <mrsalifsallam@micso.fr>
Reply-To: "Mr. Max Ofori" <maxofori00@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2015 13:20:48 +0100
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP
--
I am Mr.Max Ofori, the chief auditor in charge of foreign remittance unit of
our bank and i have had the intent to contact you over this transaction
worth the sum of ($7.300.000.00million used) for our success. I want to use
your name and your account to transfer the sum of $7.3million from my bank.
I know is possible if you liaise properly with me and get 30% of the total
funds as your benefit hence you are a foreigner as soon as you reply, step
to follow in order to finalize this transaction immediately would be
declared to you. I expect you’re urgent communication on my private email
address :(maxofori00@gmail.com).
Sincerely yours
Mr.Max Ofori
________________________________________________
Message sent using Micso France Webmail
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Anti-fraud resources:
