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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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: pauline max <paulinemax2005@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: paulinemax03@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:32:54 +0900 (JST)
Subject: WE NEED YOUR HELP.
Dear Respectful One
It's my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I and my Son,
intend to establish in your country.
Though I have not met with you before but I believe,one has to risk confiding
in someone to succeed sometimes in life.
There is this huge amount of SEVEN MILLION U.S dollars($7,000,000.00)
which my late Husband kept in a box and lodged it in a security storage house
here in Abidjan.
Aslo he declaire it as a family belonging to the security company
The only person that aware that it is the fund is the box is me my son and
you are made known today .
Before he was assasinated by unknow persons.
Now me and my son decided to invest these money in your country or
anywhere safe enough outside Africa for security and political reasons.
We want you to help us to transfer this fund to your country for investment
purposes on the followings below:
1). Telecommunication
2). Automobile manufacturing
3). Five star hotel
If you, you can be of an assistance to us we will be pleased to offer to
you 20% Of the total fund.
I await your soonest response.
Extend my warmest regards to
your entire family.
Thank you and God bless you.
Sincerely.
Mrs pauline Max.
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