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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "million american 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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: <samira01.kazim@hotmail.fr>
Date: Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:12:06 +0300
Subject: =?UTF-8?B?R09PRCBEQVkgSSBIQVZFIEEgQlVTSU5FU1MgUFJPUE9TQUwgRk9SIFlPVSw=?=
GOOD DAY I HAVE A BUSINESS PROPOSAL FOR YOU,
I AM MISS SAMIRA KAZIM.
I AM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE I NEED YOUR HELP IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A SUM THAT MY LATE FATHER DEPOSITED BEFORE HE DIED.
THIS MONEYIS $8.000.000.00 USD,EIGHT MILLION AMERICAN DOLLARS AND THE MONEY IS IN A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN ABIDJAN COTE D'IVOIRE.
I WILL OFFER YOU 20% OF THE TOTALL AMOUNT FOR HELPING ME TO RECIEVE THE TRUNK BOX. MY FATHER WAS A VERY RICH COCOA FARMER AND HE WAS POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS COLLEAGUES AND NOW I WANT YOU TO STAND AS MY GUIDIAN AND APPOINTED BENEFICIARY AND THE CONSIGNMENT WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOU IN YOUR COUNTRY.SINCE I AM ONLY 19 YEARS OLD AND WITHOUT MOTHER AND FATHER PLEASE I WILL LIKE YOU TO REPLY TO THIS EMAIL SO THAT I WILL TELL YOU ALL THE INFORMATION. SO THAT YOU WILL GET ME PAPERS TO TRAVEL TO YOUR COUNTRY TO CONTINUE MY EDUCATION THERE WHILE YOU HELP ME INVEST THE MONEY UNTIL I FINISH MY EDUCATION.
PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH ALL YOUR INFORMATIONS SUCH AS:
1 Your full Names and Age
2 Your Home address
3 Your telephone/MOBILE AND Fax Numbers
4 Your Occupation and Position.
5 Your picture and country identity.
I AM WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY SOONESS.
THANKS
MISS SAMIRA KAZIM.
___________________________________
Mersin Universitesi, http://www.mersin.edu.tr
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Anti-fraud resources:
