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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:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "confidentiality of this transaction" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: janet hillc2 <janethillc2@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2010 07:57:10 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: REPLY BACK URGENT ?
REPLY BACK URGENT ?
MY NAME IS MISS JANET HILL
FROM COTE DIVOIRE WEST AFRICA,
For your kind attention. I will be very glad if you do assist me to relocate this sum of ( US$18.6M ) to empty account which you are going to open for transfer and send down here the information and i will instruct the bank to transfer the money since am the next of kin to the money.
This is a genuine business,only i cannot operate it alone without using a Foreigner who will stand as a beneficiary to the money, that is why i decided to contact you in a good manner to assist me and also to share the benefit together with me.
By indicating your interest I will send you the full details on how the business will be executed. i also promise to compesate you 15 % after the confirmation of this money into the empty account.
Please be informed that your utmost confidentiality is required. If this interests you, I want to remind you of the confidentiality of this Transaction at hand whatever your decision is.
I await your urgent response,and fill those question below to enable us proceed this business onward.
Your Full Name...
Your Sex....
Your Age.....
Your Country.....
Marital Status.....
Your Occupation....
Your Personal Mobile Number......
Your Personal Fax Number........
BEST REGARDS
MISS JANET HILL
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Anti-fraud resources:
