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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- abelmousa12@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Abel Mousa <abeelahakim12@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2017 19:05:44 +0000
Subject: HI
Dear Friend!
I am Mr Abel Mousa, the new appointed Regional Account Officer UBA Bank Accra Branch. I will like you to help me in receiving this funds $16,500,000.00 with my bank. I need your foreign partnership in a deal which i figured out in our bank that there has been a dormant accounts laying in our bank since many years before I came to the banking office.
Meanwhile when I went through the records I now found out that it was one Mr. Eric Wagner which the Next of kin was his only son Mr. Edward Wagner whom died out of shock in 2008 and since then the bank has not know anything about the dormant deposited funds, last week the lawyer in charge of this account came saying as they do not have any other next of kin that I should have all the important documentations’ to look for a good foreign partner who can stand as the next of kin to said funds.
My dear there is no problem at all on this transaction and it is 100% risk free once you follow my instructions. If you concur with this proposal, I intend for you to retain 50% of the funds while 50% will be mine.
I will tell you more as soon as you indicate an interest to this deal. I wait your urgent response to my private email for more details: abelmousa12@gmail.com
Regards'
Mr Abel Mousa
Account officer
UBA Bank Accra Branch.
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