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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:
- "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)
- "consignment " (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: =?utf-8?B?U3TDqXAgQXVicnk=?= <staubry1@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: steaub@ovi.com
Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2012 15:00:49 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Hi Dear
Hi Dear,
Good day to you,I am very sorry to had infringe into your privacy without permission,I have decided to contact you after much thought considering the fact that we have not meet before now,but circumstance oblige, I am Miss Stéphanie Aubry Française by Nationalilty I used to be the European secret aide of former first lady Simone Gbagbo the wife of Ex-president of Cote D’Ivoire Mr Laurent GBAGBO who was arrested on the 04/Nov/2011.I have contacted you for you to help me claim so funds and 8 kilos of Gold plus 5.5.millon dollars.) i deposited in a trusted company.
I contacted you because I want you to reach the SECURITY COMPANY here as my My business partner and arrange with them for the release or shipment of the deposited consignment (Trunk BOX) on my behalf and also arrange for the sales of the gold. We have to move very fast as the new government as started investigation into all dealings of the previous regime.
If you are willing to assist me, I have made up my mind to offer you 30% share out of the total money realized from the transaction (sales of the Gold and the fiscal cash) for your assistance.
Once again I thank you and I am waiting for your very urgent reply as a confirmation that you received my proposal and are willing to assist me.
God bless you
Yours
Stéphanie
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Anti-fraud resources:
