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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "kosokofamily@yahoo.co.za" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: PRINCESS MANYA KOSOKO <jk.ss0i@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <ta7072@yahoo.co.za>
Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 08:59:35 +0000
Subject: PLEASE WE NEED YOUR URGENT HELP
FROM: PRINCESS MANYA & PRINCE
ABDUL KOSOKO
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.
PRIVATE EMAIL - kosokofamily@yahoo.co.za
PRIVATE MOBILE NUMBER- + 27 60 429 0454
DEAR SIR/ MADAM
PLEASE WE NEED YOUR URGENT HELP
OUR GREETINGS!. WE KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE SURPRISED TO READ FROM
US, BUT PLEASE CONSIDER THIS LETTER AS A REQUEST FROM A FAMILY IN DARE NEED OF
HELP.
I AM PRINCESS MANYA SASI KOSOKO AND MY BROTHER PRINCE ABDUL MAKANA
KOSOKO THE ONLY DAUGHTER AND SON OF LATE DEFENCE MINISTER MAJOR IBIDA SONTO
KOSOKO AND LATE MRS BOSE NWOKE KOSOKO OF DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, (MAY
THEIR SOULS REST IN PERFECT PEACE).
BEFORE HE WAS SECRETELY EXECUTED WITH SOME OTHER TOP GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS. HE DEPOSITED A BOX WITH A PRIVATE SECURITY AND FINANCE COMPANY IN
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA AS A MERE FAMILY TREASURE. THE BOX CONTAINS THE SUM
OF US$ 25.5 MILLION (TWENTY FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED
STATES DOLLARS). THIS MONEY WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE PURCHASE OF ARMUNITIONS, BUT
HE DECIDED TO DIVERT IT FOR HIS PERSONAL USE BECAUSE IT WAS CERTAIN THAT THEY
ARE LOOSING THE WAR AGAINST THE REBELS.
PLEASE IF YOU ARE WILLING TO ASSIST US, KINDLY CONTACT US WITH THE
ABOVE PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER AND PLEASE DO PROVIDE ME WITH
YOUR PERSONAL TELEPHONE/ MOBILE NUMBERS AND EMAIL ADDRESS FOR EASIER
COMMUNICATION. AS SOON AS YOU RESPOND TO US WE WILL EXPLAIN TO YOU THE
MODALITIES THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE FOR US TO ACHIEVE OUR SUCCESS IN TRANSFERRING
THIS MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUINT/S.
WE HAVE AGREED TO OFFER YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL SUM
FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, 5% WILL BE SET ASIDE TO OFFSET ANY UNFORESEEN
EXPENSES DURING THE TRANSFER WHILE 75% WILL BE FOR MY FAMILY’S
INVESTMENTS IN YOUR COUNTRY. PLEASE KEEP THIS TRANSACTION CONFIDENTIAL AS WE
DON’T WANT TO GET OURSELVES EXPOSED.GOD BLESS YOU AS WE AWAIT YOUR REPLY
SOONEST.
KIND REGARDS.
PRINCESS MANYA SASI KOSOKO
(FOR THE FAMILY)
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Anti-fraud resources:
