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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:
- "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)
- "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.
- 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.
- jack_ngesah@netcourrier.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: jack <jack_ngesah23@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: jack_ngesah@netcourrier.com
Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:19:58 +0900 (JST)
Subject: URGENT
Dear trust one,
Contact email jack_ngesah@netcourrier.com
Best compliments.
It is my pleasure to contact you for a business which my sister and I intend to establish in your country.
Although we have not met before but I firmly believe that we have to risk confiding in someone to succeed from our current situation and to the best of our future.
We are the children of Abel Ngesah. A native of Ivory Coast.
Through a series of ongoing war in our country for many years before, there is this huge amount of U.S. $ five million three hundred thousand ($ 5.300,000.00) which our late father deposited in a bank here in Abidjan , Cote D 'Ivoire before he was assassinated by unknown enemies.
Now my sister and I decided to invest these funds in your country or anywhere safe enough outside Africa for security and political reasons.
We ask that you help us to transfer these funds in your country for investment purposes on the followings below:
1). Telecommunication
2). Motor industry
3). Five-star hotel
If you can be of help to us, we will be happy to offer you 20% of the total funds for your kind assistance and rights.
We await your reply soon. a
Our warmest greetings to all your family.
Please I want you to call us here in my private box below for security reasons. Contact email jack_ngesah@netcourrier.com
Thank you and God bless you.
Sincerely,
JACK NGESAH
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