|   |  | joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet
 
 |  | 
"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:
 -  "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
 
-  This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams. 
 
-  This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office. 
 
-  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. 
 -  larrypaulson009@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
 
Fraud email example:
| 
From: Larry Paulson <"www."@grace.ocn.ne.jp>Reply-To: Larry Paulson <larrypaulson009@yahoo.com>
 Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2017 05:53:57 +0900 (JST)
 Subject: SCAM VICTIMS COMPENSATION PROGRAM
 
 Full Headers Printable View
 BENIN REPUBLIC HIGH COMMISSION
 DANGOTE HOUSE, AGUYI IRONSI STREET,
 MAITAMA DISTRICT WUSE,
 COTONOU,
 BENIN REPUBLIC SCAM VICTIMS COMPENSATION PROGRAM
 OUR REF: 0012/BHC/EFCC/BEN/2017
 SCAM VICTIMS COMPENSATION PROGRAM
 
 Compliments of the Season and the best of all, we wish to inform
 you that your name was listed by the BENIN REPUBLIC FINANCIAL
 INTELLIGENT UNIT (NFIU) for these exercise of compensating
 scammed victims, some have been endorsed by the British High
 Commission in BENIN REPUBLIC yours was among those reported unpaid
 as at last week and we wish to instruct you to see the
 instruction of the commission to make sure you receive your
 compensation instantaneously.
 
 Be advised that this compensation has a limited time frame and do
 make sure that your fund is approved this week and to avoid any
 complication due to ensure you are the rightful beneficiary do
 provide the following data.
 
 First and your Last Name......
 a copy of your ID..........
 Mailing Address..............
 cell Phone .............
 Occupation..........
 AGE..............
 
 Please forward all your information's to the inspector Mr.Larry Paulson
 (larrypaulson009@yahoo.com)
 TEL: +229-996-785-75
 contact person Mr.Larry Paulson
 
 Yours in Service
 DR.JAMES ROBERT
 
 | 
Anti-fraud resources: