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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.
- 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:
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- anita_lozop001@yahoo.co.jp (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: ANITA LOZO <anita.lozo5@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: anita_lozop001@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2010 13:37:02 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: hi
Dear Respectful One,
I am Miss Anita Lozo the only surviving daughter of late Mr. Maxwell Lozo My father was a produce buyer & exporter of cocoa and coffee. He met his demise during a trip to the village in a fatal motor accident with my mother and my only brothers.
While I was going through my father's file I discovered that he deposited the sum of seven million eight hundred thousand us dollar only (US$7,800,000) here in Abidjan capital city of cote d' ivoire west african.
Presently I am soliciting your assistance as regards the money my late father deposited to investing of this money in your country. I will also need you to assist me come over to your country so that I can further my educational carrier,and
also you will be well compensated for this noble assistance I need from you.
I will like to hear from you so that I will gave you all the details with the contact where the money was deposited . May Almighty God bless you I hear from you, and try contact me with this ( anita_lozop001@yahoo.co.jp) for more informations.
Thanks and God bless.
Yours sincerely.
Miss Anita Lozo
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Anti-fraud resources:
