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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "cotonou" (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.
- rishidia003@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- road cotonou, benin rep. west africa. my private e-mail:rishidia003@yahoo.com dear friend, it's my (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Chris Richard <rishisiahmed009@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:13:46 +0100
Subject: Re:From Chris Richard.
From Chris Richard.
No 12 Air port road Cotonou,
Benin Rep. West Africa.
My Private E-mail:rishidia003@yahoo.com <E-mail%3Arishidia003@yahoo.com>
Dear Friend, it's my urgent need for a reliable and reputable person that
made me to contact you on this business which involves transfer of huge sum
of money to a foreign account. I need your urgent assistance in transferring
the sum of ($10.5 MILLION USD) into your account.
I need your support because I cannot claim this money without a foreign
partner since the deceased client was a foreigner. I will offer you (40%)
for your assistance and I want to assure you that this transaction is
absolutely legal and risk free since I works in this bank. Please reply me
with bellow information if interested so that i will give you the complete
information on how to proceed.
1) YOUR FULL NAME:_______________
2) YOUR AGE:______________________
3) YOUR MARITAL STATUSES:_______
4) YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER:______
5) YOUR FAX NUMBER:______________
6) YOUR COUNTRY:_________________
7) YOUR OCCUPATION:_____________
8) YOUR SEX:______________________
9) YOUR RELIGION:________________
10) YOUR PRIVATE E-MAIL ADDRESS:___
Thanks,
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Chris Richard
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Anti-fraud resources:
