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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:
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Ms Favour Milan <favourmilan25@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: favourmilan1@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2019 13:25:24 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dear Beloved One.
From: Favour Milan
Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire
West Africa .
Hello Dear,
I am introducing my self as Miss Favour Milan, the only Daughter of late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Milan, I wish to request for your assistance in a financial transaction. And I wish to invest in Manufacturing and real estate management in your country. Though I have not met with you before but I believe one has to risk confiding to succeed sometimes in life.
I have ($11.5 Million) United States Dollars to invest in your country, the fund was deposited by my late Father with a Fiduciary Fund Holder with my name as the beneficiary before he was assassinated during this political crisis in Cote d'Ivoire, and I will require your assistance in receiving the funds in your personal/company account for investment in your country and also assist me to further my studies in your country.
I will gladly give you some reasonable percentage from the total sum for your assistance while I pray that you do not betray me at last.
Please it is very important you contact me immediately for further explanation on how we will proceed.
Awaiting your immediate response.
Thanks and God bless.
Best Regards
Ms Favour Milan
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Anti-fraud resources:
