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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:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cashier's check" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- policedepartment@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Jean Noah <"s-yamada."@chive.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: " INSPECTOR GENERAL STATE POLICE DEPARTMENT." <policedepartment@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2016 07:37:45 +0900 (JST)
Subject: INSPECTOR GENERAL STATE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
A report came into this office regarding a fund transfer which you are supposed to receive from COTONOU, UBA BANK.
Investigation has been made and we had discovered that the bank manager Mr. Yusuf was behind all the delays and plans to
divert this funds to his personal banking account.
The report was made from the State Finance Commission yesterday that your funds have not be released to you. The police took
actions and we tracked this BANK. The bank manager was arrested, he is now in jail for attempting a fraud act to seize a fund
$5.5 Million a compensation which was made approved by the State Government to you as beneficiary.
The State Finance Commission had given order to the bank authorities to issue a Certified Cashier's check and send it to your
home address. So we are sending you this notice, to know if you would prefer the $5.5 Million paid to you by Cashier's check
or crediting the $5.5 Million into an ATM VISA CARD?
Moreover,to make this transaction more confidential,the below information is needed from you for the delivery procedure.
Your Full Name................
Your Home Address.............
Your Nearest Airport..........
Your ID Copy..................
Your Direct phone number......
Your Occupation...............
Your Alternative email/number........
Waiting on your urgent response.
YOURS IN SERVICE,
Mr Jean Noah
TEL....+22998265597
INSPECTOR GENERAL STATE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Email.. policedepartment@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
