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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:
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- kevincastrow4@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: patricia choki <ptchoki78@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2017 13:38:00 +0100
Subject: Re Very Urgent Important Message
ATTN: Our Honorable Contractor.
During the auditing and closing of all financial records of the
Central Bank of Bnin (CBB) it was discovered from the records of
outstanding foreign contractors due for payment with the Federal
Government of Benin in this first Quarter of 2017 that your name and company is
next on the list of those who will receive their fund.
I wish to officially notify you that your payment is been processed
and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter.
Also note that from the record in our file, your outstanding payment
is, ( USED $19.5 Million united state dollars ).
Kindly re-confirm to me if this is in line with what you have in your
record and also re-confirm the information below to enable this office
proceed and finalize your fund remittance without further delays.
You are to get back to office incarge to send your money to you on his email.
address
His name is Mr Kevin Castrow
His email address is ( kevincastrow4@yahoo.com ) for further
discussion and more.
Your Full Name
Your Address and phone numbers
Patricia Choki,
Auditor General of the Federation
Remember send your information to office incarge with his email
address( kevincastrow4@yahoo.com )
for further discussion and more.
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Anti-fraud resources:
