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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "abidjan" (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: "From Mrs.Mary Jand" <m_j12@cptelnet.com>
Reply-To: mary_jand52@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:10:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Mrs.Mary Jand
>From Mrs.Mary Jand
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
It's my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I and my Son Ben intend to establish in your country,Though I have not met with you before but I believe one has to risk, confiding in someone to succeed sometimes in life.
There is this huge amount of money Ten Million U.S dollars($10,000,000.00) which my late Husband Mr. Jand Wilson deposited in a fixed deposite(Domicillary) account in a bank here in ivory coast Abidjan before he was assasinated by unknown persons.Now my son and I decided to invest this money in your country for security purposes. We want you to help us to transfer this money to your account in your country for investment purposes on the followings below:
1). Telecommunication
2). International School
3). Five star hotel or any other business venture you know we can invest these money, i mean lucrative business ventures.
If you can be of an assistance to us we will be pleased to offer to you 10% Of the total money. Please reply me through my private mail address for seccurity reasons
I await your soonest response.
Extend my warmest regards to your entire family.
Thank you and God bless you.
Sincerely
Mrs.Mary Jand.
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Anti-fraud resources:
