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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "any lucrative business in your country" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- vivian.mangou@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Vivian" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <vivian.mangou@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2011 13:51:49 -0700
Subject: [!! SPAM] In Good Faith
*This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate(r) Pro*
*This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate(r) Pro*
Dear sir/madam,
It is my pleasure to write you after much consideration since I can not be able to see you now. Being one of the wives of my polygamous husband, Gen. Phillippe Mangou. You can read from the website below:
http://revolutionwithoutborder.org/2011/04/01/residents-report-fighting-near-ivory-coast-presidential-palace/
He has to seek assylum with the South Africa Embassy. But my self and my son escaped with the sum of $2.3M to India with the help of the United Nations Diplomat.
I have succeeded in locating the UN Security Vault and confirmed the existence with most honest and confidentiality.
Now, I am soliciting for your assistance to help me transfer this money to your account or house so that we should invest it in any lucrative business in your country because this is my only hope in life.
Your handsome reward is negotiable and I promise to compensate you greatly.
Awaiting to hear from you so that we can discuss the modalities of this transaction.
Salut,
Mrs. Valerie Mangou and children
Email: vivian.mangou@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
