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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)
- "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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- lindy.kabila18@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "lindy kabila" <lindy.kabila18@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:58:54 +0100 (CET)
Subject: please your correspondence is needed
Dear Sir/Madam
I would like to introduce myself to you. My name is Lindy Kabila daughter
of the former Head Of State, The President of Congo-Kinshasha, Mr Laurent
Desire Kabila. (Late).
I have a business proposal which i strongly believe would be of great
financial benefit for the both of us. I am 18yrs old and i think this is
the right time to do this.
Note: That nobody other than my mother has a knowledge of this deal
because we are both in it together.so i would like it if you keep it to
yourself.
While my dad was alive he made a secret sale of diamond worth
20,700,000.00 USD which was deposited with a security trust company under
deposit account.
i have decided to contact you because for security reason i cannot come
out and lay claim to the funds because my brother from another mother
(Joseph) whom is now the president of my country is after the life of my
mum and i.that is the more reason you should keep this a secret.
i would want you to stand as the next of kin to my late father and receive
the funds in your country on our behalf. your share has been calculated as
20% of the total amount.all documents required for this transaction is
available.
You have nothing to worry about as this transaction is 100% risk free.
presently we live in a refugee camp and life here is so bad for us that we
need your urgent assistance.
please reply here: lindy.kabila18@gmail.com
i await your response.
Regards
Lindy.
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Anti-fraud resources:
