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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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Diane Soto <anthonycarbone5888@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dianne.soto19@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2017 16:15:15 +0000
Subject: urgent help for investment plans and opportunities in your country
Dear
My name is Diane Soto; i am 21 years old orphan from Abidjan Ivory Coast in
West Africa. I have the sum of (€7.5 million) which my late father
deposited in one of the prime bank here with my name as next of kin because
I am his only surviving child.
I would like you to assist me transfer this money to your bank account in
your country and also bring me to your country to continue my education.
My uncles and relatives are desperately seeking to kill me at all cost
because of this money my late father deposited in the bank in my name.
Please, i am honorably seeking your assistance in the following ways:
(1) To provide a bank account into which this money would be transferred to.
(2) To serve as my guardian and also serve as the investment manager of the
money.
(3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country. to assist me
secure a residence permit and also assist me enroll in a school in order to
continue my education.
I would greatly be rejuvenated if you could respond to me after reading
this email so that i can give you more information on how you can transact
with my late father's bank and facilitate the transferring of the fund to
your bank account.
I will offer you 20% of the total sum as a compensation for your help and
efforts.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
regards,
Diane Soto
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Anti-fraud resources:
