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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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: "Miss Zamaba Madelinemaya." <ma_ah04@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: zamabamadelinemaya90@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:42:28 -0000
Subject: GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU READ
GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU READ
Dearest One,
I do not mean to inconvenience you at this time. Please I am begging you
to give attention to my message and reply me back as soon as possible.
I have an inherittance asset fund of US$8.6M (Eight Million Six hundred
Thousand United State Dollars)currently under one of the leading Finance
Security Firm here in Abidjan Ivory Coast which my late father deposited
before his untimely death.
Dear, I am soliciting for your kind assistance to stand by me as my
guardian to Claim/withdraw this deposited asset fund from the Finance
holders and transfer it to your safe country for investment purposes which
will be under your care and supervision, then I will come over there to
start a new life and further my education.
Please if you are keenly interested to assist me, reply back as soon as
possible so that I can forward to you information of the Finance holders
and legal documents of the deposited asset fund for your perusals and
verification.
Thank you for your intended kindness to me.
Sincere regards,
Miss Zamaba Madelinemaya.
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Anti-fraud resources:
