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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:
- "lome togo" (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: Taalie Edward <dalberti@dalberti.com.br>
Reply-To: linda_santors33@cantv.net
Date: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 15:09:31 -0800
Subject: Dearest Beloved.
--
Dearest Beloved.
After reading your profile on this site I became interested in you and
also want to know more better you .
My name is Taalie Edward, 19 year old Girl a student, my late father was
a former Minister of Interior and head of the CDF in Sierra-Leone before
he was killed by the group of rebel on date May 12, 2006.
Before the death of my father, he let me know he had deposited into a
fixed account in a bank here in Lome Togo for my schooling and some
other needs when I am old enough to take care of myself.
Now, since my father is late and our family members are after me to kill
me so as to inherit my fathers wealth, I kindly seek your help in
claiming this funds from the Bank and invest it into a business in your
country while you shall also help me get a visa into your country so
that I can further my education.
The reason why I seek your help is because I am of age and cannot go for
claims of that funds from the Bank because of my age status.
I shall send you the paying bank here contact details as my late fathers
business partner overseas and shall forward all the deposit documents to
you as soon as I can confide in you that you would not sit in the funds
after it gets to your care.
I also want you to reply to me immediately is not safe for me.
Also send me your telephone number in your reply so that i can call you
for discussions.
Thanks a lot and God Bless you.
Sincerely.
Taalie Edward.
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Anti-fraud resources:
