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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:
- "million 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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: DORIS MICHAEL <doris.michael2@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: mrs_doris_m@yahoo.cn
Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 10:13:02 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Hello Dear,
Hello Dear,
I am Mrs.Doris Michael from Cameroon i am married to late Mr. Michael Francis from Cote D'Ivoire. he was the executive accountant with the Ivory Coast ministry resources and energy. And during the period of our marriage we have only one son.Though this message might come to you as unexpected hence we have not meet before and the only means of communication is through internet and you are being contacted because of my condition here in the hospital in Cote D'Ivoire.
I was told by the doctor that I was poisoned and has got my liver damaged and can only live for some months. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $4.5 US Million Dollars in a bank here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire. I cannot think of anybody trying to kill me apart from my late husband business associate in order to inherit the money, because my son is only eight years old.
I will issue you the vital document that will prove to you the present beneficiary of the fund in the bank. I hope that you will not betray my only son if i chang the document in your name and make you the present beneficiary. After all the transfer my son will relocate to your country, Please all I need from you is to take my only son as your son,give him good education. even when I am know more. this mail is very urgent.
All I need now is for you to Invest this Fund for my only son.If you can be of an assistance to us we will be pleased to offer you 15% Of the total fund.If you fill to help me.
God bless you and your family
Mrs. Doris Michael
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Anti-fraud resources:
