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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:
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- "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: Mariama Andrew <mariamaandrew@airsoftmail.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 16:25:33 +0800
Subject: From: Mrs Mariama Andrew
From: Mrs Mariama Andrew
It is my plesure to be in contact with you. I am looking for interested individual or company that can receive my family inheritance money for investment purposes,However I want the person to assume responsibility of management on investment in his country or any country of his choice. My late husband Mr Eduwin Francis Andrew deposited US$7,000,000.00 dollars cash
in a safe suspense account here in Abidjan to avoid government knowledge for his supposed presidential ambition before he was murdered in the year 2009.I am hereby assure that your benefits for assisting a widow woman will be 25% of the total sum on receiving the total money into your account, and another 10% commission accruing from profit on investment and
another 5% go to any expenses may occur during the transfer of the funds into your account.
I look forward to your reply with your full names, country address and personal phone numbers for effective communications and the contacts details will be submitted to the bank for onwards transfer to your account.
I wait to get your earlier response upon receipt
Sincerely,
Mrs Mariama Andrew
---- Mail sent via @AirsoftMail - http://www.airsoftmail.com/
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Anti-fraud resources:
