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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.
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Debora Joseph <debora02joseph@hanmail.net>
Reply-To: Debora Joseph <joseph_2013debo@hanmail.net>
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 09:53:11 +0100 (BST)
Subject: With Due Respect
 Â
 Dear love one
Please permit me to introduce myself to you. I am miss Debora Joseph 22 years of age the only child and Daughter of late Mr Joseph Bakayoko, from Ivory Coast. I want to use this medium to request for your assistance for relocation and investment establishment in your custody by transferring my inherited money into your bank account.
My late father Mr Joseph Bakayoko, was a businessman before he was assassinated he died on 9th of October 2011. Some months after the death of my father, two of my uncles conspired against me and sold my father’s properties to a Chinese businessman all because I am a girl.
A week ago, I opened my father’s briefcase and saw some documents which my late father used and deposited money in a Bank here in Ivory Coast with my name as the next of kin. I have tried to withdraw the money so that I can start a better life and take care of myself.
The Branch manager of the Bank whom I met in person told me that my present status doesn’t permit me by the local laws to clear money or make a transfer of money into an account. He advised me to present somebody or a company to stand on my behalf who will help me and invest the money or I should wait till when I will be 25 years old according to the law of Ivory Coast.
I have chosen to contact you and would like you to take me as your own blood and help me. I will like to disclose much to you if you can help me to relocate to your country because my uncle has threatened to kill me. The amount of the money is ($2.5m USD) and I have confirmed it from the bank.
You will help me to place the money in a more profitable business investment in your Country. You will also help by getting a nice school in your country so that I can complete my studies. It is my intention to compensate you with 10% of the total money for your services and the balance shall be my capital in your establishment.
As soon as I receive your interest in helping me, I will put things into action immediately. In the light of the above, I shall appreciate an urgent message indicating tour ability and willingness to handle this transaction sincerely. Please do keep this only to yourself. I beg of you not to disclose it to anyone until I come over to your country because I am afraid of my wicked uncle’s who has threatened to kill me.
Thanks and God bless you.
Yours sincerely.
Debora Joseph
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