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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:
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "can i completely trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: success brown <success.brown8@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: success.brown15@hotmail.fr
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:05:33 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Hi
Hi
My name is Success Brown. I am 22 years old girl and the only daughter of my late parents Mr. and Mrs. Donald Brown. I have passed through many sufferings over here in my country (Ivory Coast) West Africa and I contacted you for a better solution and advice from you.
Few years back, my late father was a cocoa merchant here in Abidjan the economic capital of Ivory Coast before he was poisoned to death in 2009 by my wicked uncle (Konan Brown)
Before the untimely death of my father in the private hospital here in Abidjan .he revealed to me that he has deposited a great sum of US$ 3.500.000 dollars (Three million five hundred thousand dollars) in a private security company here in Abidjan.
It was deposited in my name as his only child as the next of kin and gave me all the documents concerning the deposit of the fund and ordered me seriously to seek for a foreigner out of the country which can assist me to withdraw the money out of the security company in order to continue a new life abroad, because I am his only child and to safe my life.
I need is for you to assist me withdraw my money from the security company and to invest it in a good business in your Country. After a careful thought I have decided to give you a commission of 15 % of the total sum to enable you covers up every unavoidable expense during the process of the transaction. May almighty God touch your heart and give you the courage to make a wise decision while I am expecting to hear from you soon.
Please I need your urgent assistance in these ways:
(1) I want you to help me withdraw this money from the security company for investment in your country and after you receive the money you will help me apply for residence permit to come over to your country to continue my schooling.
(2) Can I completely trust you? I need your assurance.
Finally, I want you to reply me immediately you read my mail today so that I will send you more information's to enable us proceed further with the transaction.
Best wishes with all my love
Success Brown
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