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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "ecowas " (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.
- ecowasofficebeninrepublic@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: JOHN DRAMANL <"john."@sweet.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: JOHN DRAMANL <ecowasofficebeninrepublic@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2017 19:23:30 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attn!
FROM HIGH COURT OF ECOWAS RB BRANCH:
B/OP/1234 PLOT AKPAKPA,BENIN.
OUR REF.CODE: BSEL/773/AWN/021/09
this is your winning detail
date of registration:2017
winning no:z562un8-45
code: bz47/n986/b1pl
winning amount: $4.5million
Your full compensation payment worths(4,500,000 USD) has been approved by the Board of directors of ECOBANK today.you have to Contact Hon. John Douglas the granl Manager urgent remitting for direction on how to receive your fund and He will give you direction on how you will be receiving the funds and Make sure that the bellow stated codes are identified while contacting the office for security reasons so that he will be sure to avoid wrong transfer. The code as follows(bz47/n986/b1pl) Email; {ecowasofficebeninrepublic@gmail.com}phone number:+29968017715
RECEIVER'S NAME__
ADDRESS: _______
COUNTRY: _________
PHONE NUMBER: ____
THANKS.
BEST REGARD.
FROM HIGH COURT BENIN
JOHN DRAMANL MAHAMA
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Anti-fraud resources:
