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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:
- 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:
- "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million dollars" (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)
- "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: info@constructionslaflamme.com
Reply-To: emmanuel.ofosuu@outlook.com
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2017 05:38:31 -0700
Subject: From Emmanuel Ofosu
Hello,
I am Emmanuel K. Ofosu Director Foreign Operation Dept Guaranty Trust Bank, i went through your profile and i like the concision of it. I have decided to write you this message because I have a business worth 2.4 million dollars proposal for you.
A Chinese contractor and investor was confirmed dead by a car accident along side with his family in ghana 6 years ago and he was deposited 2.4 million dollars in our bank which still remain on claim.
So, my bank has asked me to look for the beneficiary of this man from your country to receive this money. so i want you to act as the beneficiary of this man and receive this money in your bank account and get 50% of the
total funds as commission. There are no risks in this business, it will be a bank to bank transfer and my head office in Ghana will the transfer the money to your bank account .please can I trust you?
Emmanuel K. Ofosu
Dir, Foreign Operation Dept
Guaranty Trust Bank Ghana
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Anti-fraud resources:
