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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:
- "hundred thousand u.s 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)
- "00,000.00" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- elizkabila@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Miss.Elisabeth." <elizkabila@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 12 May 2015 03:34:07 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: Mutual trust
Dear,
It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I intend to
establish in your country.
There is this amount of Seven million Eight hundred thousand U.S dollars
($7.800,000.00) which my late Parent kept for me with a bank here in
Cote d'Ivoire before his death. I have decided to invest these money
anywhere safe enough outside our Country for security and political
reasons.
I want you to help in transfer and investment of this fund in any
lucrative business were tax will not take much tools.
If you can be of an assistance i will be pleased to offer to you 10% of
the total fund.
I await your soonest response.
Respectfully yours,
Miss.Elisabeth.
elizkabila@yahoo.co.jp
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Anti-fraud resources:
