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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "the 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)
- "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)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: alfred wallacks <wallacksalfred@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2014 12:34:05 +0000
Subject: Hello
Hello
I am Alfred Wallace, The son of Dr Gomez Wallace, former interior minister
and a great politician in Cote d ivoire political arena. Because of my
father's sincerity, He was killed on the 11th of april 2010 by unknown
soldiers in his residential house during the coup plot in cote d' ivoire.
Before his death he disclosed to me about the diplomatic box he deposited
in a security company containing us$21.5 million dollars and my name was
the next of kin and the original document of deposit is intact. The fear of
money not raising eyebrows here in cote d' ivoire I decided to contact you
seeking for your help to claim the right ownership of the consignment.
My main purpose of sending you this mail is because of the way I found you
and perhaps trustworthy to give you this priority of shipping the box of
money to any address that you think is very secure and save in your country
for onward lodgement in your account and for the purpose of future
investment with your percentage of which we shall chat on soon.
I want to assure you that this transaction is 100 % risk free as no other
person knows this box apart from me and my sister.Also the Security company
didn't know the real content of the box, because it was deposited as a
family valuables. I will send you the Authorization Certificate to call
them in my next mail which is the Certificate of deposit that they gave my
late father on the very day when the box of money was deposited under their
company. I give thanks immensely for your co-operation as I look forward to
hear from you soon for quick conclusion of this business
Thanks for your co-operation and God bless.
Best regard
Alfred Wallace
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