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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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 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.
- +22560765917 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
Fraud email example:
From: Master Koffi Konate <koffikonate02@msn.com>
Reply-To: <konatekoffi001@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:50:52 +0000
Subject: From: Master Koffi Konate
From: Master Koffi Konate
Tel: 00225 60 76 59 17
My Dear,
It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which am intend to establish in your country.Though I have not met with you before but I believe one has to risk confiding in succeed sometimes in life.
I can confide on you for the brighter future of my life since you are a human being like me. But what i need from you is Truth, Trust And Honest.
I want to use this time to introduce to you regarding my inheritance which my late parents deposited in a Finance company in SPAIN EUROPE.
The total amount is Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand united states dollars. ($7.500.000.00) which my late Father Deposited for me in the Finance Company in Spain Madrid as his next of kin before he died out of sickness.
Now" i have decided to invest these money in your country or anywhere safe enough for security and political reasons.
I want you to help me as my beneficiary to claim this fund from the finance company in spain so that we can invest this money into a proper business investment venture in your country, meanwhile i have desired to invest this money in your country into purposes on these areas:
1). Telecommunication
2). the transport industry
3). Five star hotel
4). Real Estate
5) company enterprise
If you can be of an assistance to me, i will be pleased to offer to you 25% Of the total fund.
You can call Me for more explanation on this number:Tel: 00225 60 76 59 17
I will be humbly waiting your soonest response.
Respectfully yours,
Master Koffi Konate
Tel: 00225 60 76 59 17
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