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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:
- "is 100% risk free" (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.
- 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.
- mr.armandagbo@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Armand AGBO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.armandagbo@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2020 11:58:24 +0200
Subject: Re: Business proposal
Hello,
I am Mr Armand AGBO of Beninese nationality, account manager in a banking institution. I apologize for this unexpected intrusion on my part because it is following an internet search that I found your contact and after having browsed your profile, I am convinced that you will be in a better position to execute this transaction commercial with me.
Indeed, this concerns one of our clients who has been deceased for almost 5 years and who has an account without a successor or representative mentioned in the files or in the archives. So I come by this message to solicit you for a partnership like soot: This account is currently inactive and is blocked but it is a physical account linked to an online account. I would like to have your collaboration agreement in order to register your name as beneficiary of the estate in the codicil and last will of the latter in our files and archives.
This transaction is 100% risk free only mutual trust, as all legal documents that will be used to process this case will be handled by me, in your agreement to cooperate with me on this matter.
Please send me your letter of acceptance to allow me to start getting all the legal documents for the release of its funds. Here is my personal email address: mr.armandagbo@hotmail.com
Cordially …
Mr AGBO A
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Anti-fraud resources:
