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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:
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Dan Kumaya <potbpot@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2017 20:53:25 -0800
Subject: Looking forward to your immediate response.
Good Day,
I am Mr. Dan Kumaya, an ex-banker in Cotonou - Benin Republic. I am seeking
for your co-operation to assist Mrs Grace Paul Eloshi; the wife of former
Minister and my big customer when I was in the bank as she want to invest
the Sum of US$35M (Thirty Five Million U.S. Dollars) in your Country. The
money left for her family by her late husband.
Mrs. Grace confided in me that she need an investor who would assist her
family to invest the US$35M which her husband deposited in a Financial
Institution here in Cotonou - Benin Republic before his death. I promised
her that I will source for a reliable and trusted one who will help to
manage the (US$35M). I am now asking on her behalf for you to invest the
money in your Country where she and family can settle for a better life and
security.
Please get back to me immediately so I would furnish you with the full
detail of how you would receive the money in your country.
Looking forward to your immediate response.
Best Regards,
Dan Kumaya
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Anti-fraud resources:
