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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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: mrs.sarahbambam@hotmail.com
Reply-To: sarahbambam@mysinamail.com
Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 13:25:49 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Greeting From Miss Sarah
From Miss Sarah Bambam
Abidjan Cote D' Ivoire West Africa
Phone number :+22504885046
Dearest One,
With Due Respect To Your Personality,Accept my greetings.I also appologise any inconviniences this my letter would have course but please accept me and help me out of this situations.
My name is Miss Sarah Bambam 23 years old from Dafur,Sudan now under United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) asylum protection in Ivory coast because of the war in my country.
My father was killed along side with my mother during the long civil war and his properties were totally destroyed.
However, after their death I managed to escape with a very important file of my father which stated that he deposited the sum of (US$28M) Twenty Eight Million U.S Dollars in a bank Custody in abroad with my name as the Next of Kin.
Now, I would appreciate you to represent me in withdrawing the funds and also help me invest it in profitable ventures since i have limited knowledge in business and you will also make residence arrangement for me in your country.
I need your friendship and trust to start live again in your country and put my horrible past behind me.
We will negociate your percentage for your assistance in receiving the money to your account.
If you are interested please furnish me with your.
1) Real Names
2) Phone/Fax numbers
3) Occupation
4) Residence address.
I am waiting to hear from you.
Yours,
Miss.Sarah Bambam.
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Anti-fraud resources:
