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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us dollars" (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)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
- 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.
- rose.yaya01@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: YAYA ROSE <yaya.rose@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: rose.yaya01@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 05:14:25 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: My Dearest,
My Dearest,
Please don't be suprised about this message i sent to you. i will like you to give it every attention and consideration-Please.
I am Miss Rose Yaya 21 years old girl from Cote D'Ivoire (ivory coast) in West Africa. Please i will like you to treat my issue personal without looking at the bad name people have caused to my country name. we still have genuine and good people here.
I lost my father recently while my mother died many years ago. we are christians, very strong believers. my father was poisoned to death recently because of his wealth which i strongly believe that my uncle is behind it. i suspected my uncle because of his recent attitude towards me since the death of my father. he have taken all my late father valuable propertie I inherited $5.5 million US dollars from my late father which i want to help me transfer to your country because i want to come over there to continue my education. i will also offer some part of the money to ohpanage babies homes, churches,prisoners and voluntary organisation.
I have discussed with the bank where my late father deposited the money and they agreed to transfer the money to any country of my choice. so i will like you to receive the money in your bank account for me then after the transfer, i will come over to your country-OK.
Please reply me immediately via my private email address so that i will detail you the nex step.
My email address :(rose.yaya01@yahoo.com) Awaiting your immediate response and God bless you.
Yours Sincerely
Miss Rose
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