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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:
- "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)
- "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Keith Maynard <keithmaynard.bbgsaci@outlook.fr>
Reply-To: <keithmaynard.bbgsaci@financier.com>
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 12:26:57 +0000
Subject: Call me when you receive my mail
Hello dear,
I am Mr. Keith Maynard, from Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire. May you receive this letter with peace of mind and with due respect as it may be very strange to you since we have not communicate before or knowing each other facially. I have gone through your profile in the internet and believe that you can handle this project effectively but the only question now; can I trust you?
I have a friend that wishes to invest his financial estate in your country; the sum $25.6 Million Dollars only. Can you be of assistance as a partner? He is interested in investing into building of Tourist Hotel, Real Estate or any other lucrative business that will be of future benefit to both parties. Upon our agreement over investment of these funds that will be under your management for a period of time; 20% will still be giving to you for your humanly assistance while 10% of the total amount will be mapping out to cover any incurred expenses during the transaction.
Get back to me after carefully studying this proposal .
Yours truly,
Mr. Keith Maynard
Tel : +(225) 5685 5900Mobile : +(225) 4418 0966
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Anti-fraud resources:
