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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:
- "dear friend" (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: Mrs Tessy Coulibaly <tessycoulibaly2225@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: tessycoulibaly2012@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:36:42 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Dear friend.
Dear friend.
   I am quite sure that this mail will surprise you since we did not know each other before. But I
searched & got your e-mail contact through Google.com for formal Introduction, I am mr coliubaly
Formal Protocol officer to late Mo’tassim Gaddafi, Libya president son who is also late.
My reason of contacting you is because I am looking for a Trustworthy person that I can present to the
security company as the owner/ beneficiary of US$15.5M been deposited in one of the security company in
COTE DIVOIRE This was made during one of our trips last 2years to COTE DIVOIRE
Reply if you can and more details will be giving to you on how the claim of this fund will be done in
your name.
Regards
Mr.Harry Coulibaly
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Anti-fraud resources:
