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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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: DAVID WATARA <davidwatara20072008@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 27 May 2011 15:25:22 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Please I need your assistance
Dear Sir,
Please I need your assistance; your contact was given to me by a police officer. My name is David Watara from Ivory Coast. I came to Ghana because of the political unrest in my country. I came to Ghana with some Diamonds and Gold and $520,000usd (five hundred and twenty thousand US dollars) in a metal box. I had problem crossing the border so a custom officer helped me to cross into Ghana. The custom officer is keeping my box because I need to refund him some money he spent to cross me into Ghana. I have refunded him $1300 and the balance is just $200. He has refused to release my box unless I pay up his $200. I want your help to pay this $200 so that he can release my box and I will refund you $10.000USD immediately by western union. I will also send my Diamonds and Gold to you so that you can sale them for me and help me come over to Europe because I don’t want to live here In Africa any more. The Diamonds and Gold are even more valued that the money
and my money are clean and ready for use.
Please if you help me with this, I promise you will never regret. If you will help me, let me know so that I can give you the name of the custom office to send the money to him.
Thanks in advance.
God bless you.
David Watara
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Anti-fraud resources:
