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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million dollars" (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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- sarahouattara25@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Sarah Ouattara <dmlikouattara@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2014 08:34:13 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Peace be unto you
Peace be unto you
I am Miss. Sarah Ouattara,i`m 26yrs old daughter to Mr Ouattara Ahmed who work in the finance department in Abidjan, the Economic Capital of Ivory Coast,i live now in a camp I am contacting you because I need your urgent help to secure the amount which my late father kept in the bank here with my name before he was murder during the political crisis in cote dìvoire, the total sum of (US$3.5 Million Dollars) and the fund is in the bank
I want you to stand as my guardian and partner before the bank for the transfer of the fund to enable me come over to your country,i will give you the datils of the bank so that you will contact them for the transfer as you know that in my age i can`t handle such amount that is why i need your assistance.
I wish to have the whole amount transferred with your help and invested in any profitable business venture in your country that you will advice. I will offer you 30% of the total sum for your help in this transaction. After that you will arrange for my coming over to your country for the investments.reply with. Email. sarahouattara25@yahoo.com
I am waiting for your kind reply.
Your faithfuly.
Sarah Ouattara
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