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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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: tessy coulibaly <tessycoulibaly2225@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: tessycoulibaly2012@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2012 13:44:17 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Dearest One
Dearest One,
I am Tessy Coulibaly 19 years old female from the Republic of Ivory Coast,West Africa, am the Daughter of Late Chief Sgt Ibrahim Coulibaly (a.k.a General IB ). My late father was a well known Ivory Coast militia leader . He died on Thursday 28 April 2011 following a fight with the Republican Forces of Ivory Coast(FRCI).
I am seeking for long term relationship and investment assistance. My father of blessed memory deposited the sum of US$7.5 Million in one bank here in Cote d'Ivoire with my name as the next of kin. I had contacted the Bank to clear the deposit but the Branch Manager told me that my status according to the local law does not authorize me to carry out the operation. However, he advised me to provide a trustee who will stand on my behalf preferably a foreigner since I do not want to stay in this country again.
Therefore, I decide to seek for your help in transferring the money into your bank account while I will relocate to your country and settle down there. As you indicated your interest to help me I will give you the contact of the bank where my late beloved father deposited the money with my name as the next of kin. It is my intention to compensate you with 20% of the total money for your assistance and the balance shall be my investment in any profitable venture which you will recommend to me as I have no any idea about foreign investment.
I will give you more details in my next mail after receiving your acceptance to help me.
Yours sincerely
Tessy Coulibaly.
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Anti-fraud resources:
