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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states 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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "central bank of nigeria" (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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- mariozequinhas@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: marioantonio124zequinhas@gmail.com
Reply-To: mariozequinhas.finconsultant@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2017 15:25:52 -0700
Subject: RE: CAN YOU GIVE ME POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR THE FUND?/REPLY!
HYPO REGECO FINANCIAL CONSULTANT INC.
ADDRESS: CONDOM NIO BELAS BUSINESS PARK LUANDA, ANGOLA
LINE OF OPERATION: financial consultant in businesses with banking & property financing problems
DEAR FRIEND,
I am a foreign Financial Consultant from Angola, I happen to know about a funds valued at US$18 Million (Eighteen Million United States Dollars) with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
I am very much interested to move out the funds from the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN) with your co-operation as you have to act as the beneficiary of the fund as the original late Contractor that executed the Contract for which this money is being paid is late and you will be used to replace him as the next of kin to claim the fund.
The simple arrangement is just for you to act as the next kin to the Contractor and issue a legal POWER OF ATTORNEY for me to act as your representative here so as to process and release the fund to you and as soon as the fund is released, we will share it 50% on both sides, which means you will take US$9 Million and the same amount goes to me and my contacts in CBN that introduced the transaction to me.
You have to write back immediately to show your readiness to work with me as I would want you to send the following information, thus:-
1. Your full name
2. Your full address
3. Direct telephone number where you can always be reached.
4. Your date of birth
5. Occupation.
All these needed information(s) are to enable me prepare all the vital documents that I will present to the CBN Authorities that you have given me the POWER OF ATTORNEY to represent you and process the release of US$18 Million on your behalf. Carefully go through this message as more details will be passed to you as soon as I receive your response.
I will give you my cell phone numbers here as soon as I receive your urgent reply to this message so that we can forge ahead with the matter.
Looking forward to hear from you positively
Thanks and best regards
MR MARIO ANTONIO F ZEQUINHAS
ANGOLA FINANCIAL/BUSINESS CONSULTANT
NOTE: Alternative E-mail: mariozequinhas@yahoo.com
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