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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:
- "a security company " (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. )
- "trunk box" (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)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Jelad Karim <emilyfola@yahoo.ca>
Reply-To: jeladkarim@rocketmail.com
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:45:43 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re:DEAR BELOVED ONE VERY URGENT,
Greetings to you.
I humbly ask for your assistance to enable me receive (1) Trunk Box which was deposited by my late father here in Ghana.
This box was deposited by my late father in a security company here in Ghana . I am a citizen of Ivory Coast, due the crises in my country Ivory Coast, my father has saved this fund of $7.4M USD in the security company here in Ghana , I am presently at the refugee camp.
All i want from you is to help me claim this box out from the security company and help me invest it in a profitable business so that i can continue my education.
I want to plead with you if you can come down here to Ghana so that i can take you personally to the security company as my late fathers business partner to claim the fund.
I have all necessary documents with me to claim the fund without any problem. And i will offer you 30% of the fund when you have helped me. Kindly reply me as soon as you received my mail.Regards,
Jelad Karim.+233268296221
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Anti-fraud resources:
