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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:
- 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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Tiemoko Josef" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <josefjosef2019@rediffmail.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2019 23:24:12 +0100
Subject: I will will appreciate your prompt response......
From The Desk of : Dr. Kone Tiemoko Josef.
Dear Sir,
THE ABOVE SUBJECT MATTER REFERS:
It was resolved and agreed upon by Board members and Directors that
contractual funds valued $10,500,000.00, United States Dollars will
be release on a Special Payment Method via the key telex transfer
(KTT) direct wire transfer, hence I decided to contact you to
collaborate with me to receive the fund in your bank account for our
mutual benefits. I will use my position in the office to secure the
necessary fund release documents from the offices concerned in your
name as the beneficiary of the fund in question. If you have agreed to
collaborate with me to receive the fund in your bank account for our
mutual benefits. I will share the fund with you as state here:
60% of the total fund is mapped out for myself and my colleagues who
are directly involved in this transaction in my office. While 40% is
mapped out for you because of the assistance you are going to render
to us to release the fund in your bank account. We have agree to take
care of the local expenses here, while it is your responsibility to
take care of the foreign expenses at your end. I want to assure you
that there is no risk involved in this transaction it has been
carefully planned before execution.
You are advise to get back to me with the following details to enable
process for the release of the fund into your private or company bank
account.
1. YOUR NAME IN FULL:
2. YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS:
3.CONTACT PHONE NUMBER:
4. MARK OF IDENTITY (COPY):
5.YOUR BANKING COORDINATE:
I will will appreciate your prompt response.
Dr. Kone Tiemoko Josef.
The Director Foreign Operations Debt/Contract Payment
Website: www.bceao.int
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