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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:
- "million united states 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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "former president of liberia" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (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.
- jahubakonneh@indiatimes.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Jahuba Konneh" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jahubakonneh@indiatimes>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:08:43 -0800
Subject: Re.
Compliment of the day!
I am Jahuba 22 yrs of age,son of Dr.Fidel Konneh of Liberia who was confidant to Charles Taylor,former president of Liberia.
The Liberia war compelled Charles Taylor and our family to move into asylum.Billions of United States Dollars was moved out of Liberia government treasury by the ex-president and his cohorts.
My mother and I want to move USD40Million {Forty Million United
States Dollars} that is deposited in my fathers name out of Africa.
Can you assist us to receive the money into your custody?.
Presently Charles Taylor is facing trial at the War Court Tribunal
and he can't ask my family about the fund as my father was
assassinated as a result of the war and Charles Taylor did not know
that i and my mother are aware of the money he left under my father's
care.
Upon receipt of your reply we shall discuss partnership terms.
Please let this remain a top secret between you and I.
I and my mother are in Asylum here in Nigeria.
Thank you as i wait for your reply.
Jahuba Konneh
Email:jahubakonneh@indiatimes.com
View this website on Charles Taylor's trial for more understanding.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7379536.stm
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Anti-fraud resources:
