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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "James Zambala Jr" <jameszambala@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: jameszambala@msn.com
Date: Tue, 28 May 2013 12:56:48 -0500 (ECT)
Subject: Good day and peace be with you
Good day and peace be with you:
I am James zambala Jr 17 years old boy from Sudan. I am writing you from
republic of Cote d’Ivoire where i have been taking as refuge after the
brutal murder of my parents during the war crisis in my country.
I need your assistance to secure my inheritance deposited with a bank here
in Abidjan valued about five million four hundred thousand united states
dollars also like you to adopt me like your own family by getting me out
from refugee camp here.
I urge you to transfer this money to your country for good investment
project as I’m willing to relocate to your country to further my education
study for my good future:
Please get back to me for more details.
Waiting for your reply.
James zambala Jr
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Este mensaje ha sido analizado por MailScanner
en busca de virus y otros contenidos peligrosos,
y se considera que está limpio.
For all your IT requirements visit: http://www.transtec.co.uk
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Anti-fraud resources:
