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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- 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.
- ms.carolinewater@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Miss Caroline Waterl <ms.carolinewater@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2017 04:05:47 -0700
Subject: Hello My Dearest One,
Dear Sir/Madam.
Assalamu`Alaikum.
Please accept my apologies for writing you a surprise letter.I am Miss
Caroline Walter, account Manager with an investment bank here in
Burkina Faso.I have a very important business I want to discuss with
you.There is a draft account opened in my firm by a long-time client
of our bank.I have the opportunity of transferring the left over fund
(5.8 Million UsDollars) Five Million Eight Hundred Thousand United
States of American Dollars of one of my Bank clients who died at the
collapsing of the world trade center at the United States on September
11th 2001.
I want to invest this funds and introduce you to our bank for this
deal.All I require is your honest co-operation and I guarantee you
that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will
protect us from any breach of the law.I agree that 40% of this money
will be for you as my foreign partner, 50% for me while 10% is for
establishing of foundation for the less privileges in your country.
Notify me your interest by sending your data.
Your Full Name.....
Your Country....
Your Age....
Your Occupation.....
Your Phone Number
Copy of your passport or ID card....
Yours Sincerely,
Miss Caroline Walter.
Kindly Contact Me Back Through This My Private Email Box:
ms.carolinewater@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
