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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
- mrsedlthmary@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: mrsedlthmary@btinternet.com
Reply-To: mrsedlthmary@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2010 14:20:10 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: gold
Dear Friend,
I am Mrs. edith kuffor from republic of Ghana
I am the wife of late Sir Henry kuffor My husband was a gold dealer before he met his death.
I am presently residing at Abidjan Cote d?Ivoire, were I am hiding from my husbands brother who are planning to kill me and take over my husband busness.
I wish to bring to your notice an intention of mine to go into gold business as this was necessitated by my husbands death.
It may please you to know that I have 350kg of solid gold to be sold, this is to enable me purchase the required tools for the work at our gold mining site at Ghana and south Africa.
Dear friend, I will like you to assist me in these ways;
1)To buy or look for buyer for this 150kg solid gold.
2)To see if you can join me in this gold mining business.
3)I wish you to come and see the mining site yourself.
4)You will assist me source for the tools required.
I wish to let you know that I will contact an expert in gold business to handle this business with you if you indicate your interest
The 350kg solid gold is well secured in a security firm here in Abidjan Cote d?Ivoire.
Every assistance made to the success of this transaction will be highly appreciated
pls kindly contact me throu my private email address:mrsedlthmary@yahoo.com
Best regards,
GOD BLESS YOU
Thanks
MRS. EDITH MARY KUFFOR
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