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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (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: konan marie <konan.marie7@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2013 09:25:25 +0100
Subject: Miss Konan ANGEL TREASURE
Hello
My name is Miss Konan TREASURE ANGEL , only daughter of Mr Konan and Fire
Late JOSEPHINE AKISSI Brou ; My father was a merchant in the area of
gold and he has spent his entire life traveling on business through
world , but unfortunately he died in the crash of Boeing 727
Beirut December 25, 2003 off the coast of Cotonou. information
check the following websites:
afrik.com/article7043.html or
or www.rfi.fr/actufr/articles/048/article_25680.asp
www.cnn.com2003/WORLD//africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html
My mother could not stand it in turn died a month later in
polyclinic : but before his death my mother in her hospital bed me
entrusted my father has to deposit a security company
here in Abidjan the sum of 11 million Euros (ELEVEN MILLION
EUROS)
What I am looking is someone you trust who will help me to remove and
to transfer money home to productive investments;
it will be my guardians of these funds until a certain age
and after helping me to immigrate to your country to continue my studies.
For your help I agree to give you 15% of the total
God bless you
Miss Konan ANGEL TREASURE
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Anti-fraud resources:
