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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:
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Sylia Gilbert <mrssyliagilbert@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: Mrs Sylia Gilbert <mrsyliagilbert@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 11:11:00 +0100
Subject: From Mrs Sylia Gilbert.
From Mrs Sylia Gilbert.
Greetings, I am Mrs. Sylia Gilbert. An aging widow suffering from long time illness’ am currently admitted in a private hospital here in Abidjan cote d'Ivory, I have some funds I inherited from my late loving husband Mr.Frederick Gilbert. The amount of Us$6.200, 000.00 which he deposited in one of the Bank Here and I need honest and God fearing person who have the feelings of human that can use this fund for God's work and 15% out of the total funds will be for your composition for doing this work of God. Please if you would be able to use these funds for the Lord's work kindly reply to me.
I will like to have your full information’s
my dear in the lord With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank here in Abidjan. I await your soonest response with your full information, example.
AGE:
SEX:
COUNTRY:
FULL NAME:
DESTINATION:
MAILING ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER
PASSPORT BY ATTACH OR DRIVER'S LICENSE :
I will use the above information to obtain an authorization letter that will legally and officially approve you as the new beneficiary of this fund from the Federal Ministry of Justice Cote D’Ivoire. I want you and the church to always pray for me because the lord is my shepherd. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein.
May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love of God and the sweet fellowship of the Lord be with you and your family’s Amen Your Sister in the Lord
Mrs. Sylia Gilbert,
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Anti-fraud resources:
