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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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: "edith raymond" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <missedithraymond@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:46:06 -0000
Subject: Miss Edith Raymond
Miss Edith Raymond
Abidjan Ivoiry Coast
West Africa
DEAR,
It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I and my
Brother (Henry) intend to establish in your country .I am MISS EDITH
RAYMOND the Duagther to Late Dr David RAYMOND From Sierra Leone in West
Africa. Though I have not met with you before but I believe, one has to
risk confiding in succeed sometimes in life. There is amount of Eighteen
million U.S dollars ($18,000,000.00) which my late father Deposited in a
private bank here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire before his death.
Now I and my brother have decided to invest these money in your country or
anywhere safe enough outside Africa for security and political reasons.We
want you to help us and transfer these Funds into your personal account in
your country for investment purposes on these areas:
1, Five Star Hotel ). Real Estate business or any of your choice that will
profite us in return.
If you can be of an assistance to us we will be pleased to offer to you
20% Of the total fund. I await your soonest response.
Respectfully yours,
EDITH
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Anti-fraud resources:
