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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:
- "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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: yasmin hassan <aminayasmina@outlook.fr>
Reply-To: <aminagolde@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2014 17:31:55 +0100
Subject: Hello
Dear sir
I am yasmin Hassan and I am sending you special
greeting which I hope you will accept with warm heart and I know this
mail may get to you as a suprise since we have no previous
correspondence, I decided to write you after going through your profile
and my mind accepted what I read about you thus, if you don't mind I
will like to know you better.
I tragically lost my father a
couple of month ago in the wakes of the Ivory Coast political upsurge.My
father was a serving director of the Cocoa exporting board until his
death . He was assassinated on the 22nd of october 2010 by the rebels on
his way from office. I have lost my mother two years before the tragic
death of my father and being the only daughter I am virtually alone
which has made me very vulnerable to danger.
A week before his
untimely death, not knowing that he is going to died,he had summon me to
his office and made a revelation to me concerning the deposit he had
made with one security company here in Ivory coast he then gave to me
the documents he used to deposit the consignment with the security
company. The fund exactly $4.5millon US dollar has been carefully
concealed in a trunk box and registered as family valuables and treasure
by my father so that nobody may know the real content of the box.
The
situation of things and the present political impasse is the reason why
I have decided to scout for a neutral person in recuperating the
consignment from the security company. Therefore I want you to assist me
and help contact the company where the money was deposited. I want you
to do me a favour to receive this box safe in your country or any safer
place as the beneficiary and my guardian
My future plans is to
leave this country where I am every day in danger from my father's
enemies and with your assistance I can successfully recuperate this
money and join you in your country where I can with your advice plan on a
worthwhile and lucrative investment for my future well being.
I
have already set aside 15% for your help and assistance in this
transaction and another 5% for any expenses that is incur in the course
of the transaction.
However, permit me to ask the following questions:
Can you handle this project?.
Can I completely count on you?.
Can you take me as one of your own?.
Awaiting your urgent reply.
Thanks and best regards.
Yasmin Hassan
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