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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",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: "Davis Smith" <dsmith77@cantv.net>
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 19:12:17 -0430
Subject: From Davis Smith
Dearest One,
This letter might surprise you because we
have not met neither in person nor by correspondence. But I believe it is
one day that you get to knowsomebody either in physical or through
correspondence.
I am Davis Smith I have a proposal to make,
that might be of interest to you. I am in possession of a large sum of
money (US$18,000,000.00)Eighteen Million USDollars)The money was inherited
from my late father who was the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Gold and
diamond Mining Corporation during the Sierra Leonian War when Major Johnny
Paul Koromah was the country's president.
The money is of no
criminal origin as it was largely realized from black market sale of
alluvial gold dust during the war.The money has been deposited in a Bank
here in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).I now want to transfer this
money abroad and invest it in profitable ventures,as the time is now ripe
for such move.
WHAT I ASK YOU TO DO:
1.Firstly to assist
me to transfer this money to any stable country abroad.2.To assist me
invest the money in profitable ventures in your country or any other
suitable country where you have good connections.3 To help re-locate me to
the suggested country.4 To manage the money in a profitable manner
preferably a joint venture deal with your company.
For your
assistance you will get 25% of the total amount Upon your request I will
give you further details of the plans and tell you more about my self but
you must treat as highly confidential for my Security.
Regards.
Davis Smith.
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