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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found 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: rasaki salif <salif-8@msn.com>
Reply-To: <salifrasaki11@yahoo.fr>
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:36:13 +0000
Subject: FROM: MR. SALIF RASAKI
FROM: MR. SALIF RASAKI
Dear Friend,
Compliement of the season, It's my urgent need for your assistance as a foreigner to contact you for this transaction. I am the manager foreign affairs in a banking institution (Bank of Africa), Ouagadougou. Burkina Faso.
I have the opportunity of transferring the left over funds ($15.3million) abandoned in an account for years.
I am inviting you for a business deal where this money can be transfer to your account and thereafter we share in the ratio f 50% for me, 40% for you and 10% for any expenses that will come during the transfer, if you agree to my business proposal.
Please give the following information about you to show your interest:
1. YOUR FULL NAME:
2. ADDRESS:
3. TELEPHONE N°:
4. AGE:
5. OCCUPATION:
6. COUNTRY:
7. SCAN COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY:
Further details of the transfer will be forwarded to you as soon as I receive your interest.
YOURS FAITHFULY.
MR. SALIF RASAKI
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Anti-fraud resources:
