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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:
- "million dollars" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- gbagbo2010@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "ANTHONY GBAGBO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tgbagbo2010@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 11:47:45 +0100
Subject: GENUINE INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP
FROM MR. MANTHONY GBAGBO
Dear Sir
I am Anthony Gbagbo, the Brother to Ivory Coast ousted president, Laurent Gbagbo, My reasons of writing you are to solicit your partnership in receiving the amount of US$85 Million Dollars in your bank account. These funds were deposited in a private finance firm in neighboring Ghana in my Name by my brother. The fund was to be used in the purchase of arms from China to fight the rebels but my brother has now been captured by French forces and is under arrest at this moment. I now decided to escape from my country and take refuge outside my country because I am not in support of my brother from the beginning. Please I need your honest assistance to retrieve and invest these funds in any profitable venture in your country, but I will join you immediately the fund gets to your nominated account. I am willing to offer you 30% which represents US$25.5 Million for your help and assistance. If you are interested get back to me on this email:t
gbagbo2010@yahoo.co.jp as soon as
Thanks
Anthony Gbagbo
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Anti-fraud resources:
