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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- capitaltrustmenssah@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Mensah kweku <wildfn29@gmail.com>
Reply-To: capitaltrustmenssah@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 15 May 2019 01:51:31 +0100
Subject: GOOD NEWS ..
Attention;
We are pleased to inform you that your total payment entitlement has
been cleared and approved to be released to you finally through our
foreign payment centers in South Africa and Hong Kong. Consequently,
You are expected to travel to these two payment centers to formalize
and finalize the process of this funds payments release to you.
Our management has decided to look into your payment voucher and made
a surprising discovering.
Your names are among shortlisted customers in payment schedule master
list that will be sent on a diplomatic errant to our offshore payment
center to fill and sign the payment release order form and submit it
to the corresponding offshore committee center to obtain approval and
authorization to release your overdue inheritance funds under our bank
possession.
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO ADVANCE OR PAY ANY MONEY UPFRONT
ALL THROUGH THIS EXERCISE. Your only contribution is to accept to
travel and all your travel expenses shall be taken care of by us.
Secondly, accept to sign the documents in South Africa and travel with
same documents and the purchased gift items to Hong Kong for the final
endorsement and transfer of your payment. Also note that the money for
the purchase of these gift items shall be borne by us and handled by
our officials in Hong Kong.
Please in your acceptance to comply with the new development as
mandated by the internal revenue office (HACIENDA), we obliged you to
indicate by responding accepted and the management will secure a
convenient appointment on your behalf with flight schedule ticket for
the round trip. Thank you in anticipation.Thanks as I wait your urgent
feedback.
Regards,
Mr Mensah kweku
capital Trust
E-MAIL: capitaltrustmenssah@yahoo.com
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