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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 state 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)
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: Evelyn Doukoro <evelyn_doukoro44@linkmailers.com>
Reply-To: bosama225@yahoo.co.in
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:13:35 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: Thanks for your kindness.
My Dear,
I do not mean to inconvenience you at this time. Please I am begging you to give attention to me and reply me back as soon as possible if you have keen interest to assist me.
I have an inherittance asset fund of US$8,600,000.00 (Eight Million Six Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) currenty in an account with a prime bank which my late father deposited here in Abidjan before his untimely death.
I am apologising and solicitng for your noble assistance to stand by me as my guardian to claim this inherittance fund from the bank and transfer it to your safe account in your country for investment which will be managed by you so that I can come over there to stay pernaently and further my education.
Please if you are keenly interested to assist me, reply back as quickily as possible so that I can forward to you all the details and proof of the deposited fund for your view then you will contact the bank officialy to request for the release and transfer to you as my guaridan / trustee and appointed account beneficiary.
I hope for your early response.
Kind regards,
Miss Evelyn Doukoro
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Anti-fraud resources:
