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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.
- 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:
- "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.
- fitr@bol.com.br (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Flore Kawan <tvparaiba@armazemparaiba.com.br>
Reply-To: Flore Kawan <fitr@bol.com.br>
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 23:41:03 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: Why I contacted you, from Mrs. Flore Kawan and son Kevin
Hello dear,
Compliment of the season. My name is Mrs. Flore Kawan from Sierra-Leone. I live in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire here with my only child Kevin who is just 17 years old. I am presently suffering from long time disease which started immediately I came back from the village for my late husband's funeral.
I have some money $7.5Million which I inherited from my late husband and I am contacting you for your assistance to help me receive this money in your account in your country and use it for the well-being of the poor in your country or elsewhere in the world and invest part in a good business for my son Kevin so that you can help him come over to your country to further his education.
Please If you are interested, please reply immediately on Email: fitr@bol.com.br for more details. I will give you $1.2Million out of this money $7.5Million for your assistance and for seeing to the successful transfer of this money to your account. I shall also give you extra $250,000 for you to cover any expenses which you may incur in course of this fund transfer.
Thanks and may God bless.
Yours beloved sister,
Mrs. Flore Kawan and son Kevin
Email: fitr@bol.com.br
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Anti-fraud resources:
