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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:
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "million american 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22509531075 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- angelabila222007@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: angela bila <bilaangela222007@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 04:08:58 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: URGENT FROM BILA ANGELA .PLEASE HELP ME OUT!!!.
FROM BILA ANGELA
ABIDJAN - COTE D'IVOIRE
TEL: +225 09531075
Dear loved heart,
I am BILA ANGELA, 22 yrs old, from ivorycoast nationality.The only daughter of late Mr Joseph BILA, a very wealth and famous cocoa merchant based in Abidjan the federal capital of Cote d'ivoire. Please sweetheart, I inherited an amount of US$12,500,000.00 million american dollars from my late father before his sudden death. Dear, i am humbly seeking for your urgent assistance in respect of transfering this my above mentioned fund into your nominated bank account for an investment purposes such as in real estates managements and stock market investments. Dear, honestly speaking, i am willing to offer you 20% commission of this my total fund as a mode of compensation for your urgent help to me.
Please quickly call me at +225 09531075 and also responds me back as quickly as possible at these my private and secured email address for more important details regarding this my mutual transaction.
My private email address is as follows:
angelabila222007@yahoo.fr
I am seriously waiting for your immediate phone calls to me rightnow for further important details.Please help me out because i am for real and my transaction is legal and 100% risk free and i guarantee you that you won't regret your help.Thanks for your assistance, understanding and maximum cooperation and May God almighty bless you forever.
Yours lovely heart,
BILA ANGELA
+225 09531075.
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Anti-fraud resources:
