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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:
- "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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- sarah_sylla@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Sarah Sylla <sarah_sylla@yahoo.fr>
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2010 23:53:52 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Good Day
Good Day,
I am Miss Sarah Sylla from Accra Ghana
the Daughter of late Chief Martins kojo Sylla, An Estate Management
and Gold Dealer a Business
Tycoon.
I inherited the sum amount of
($2,5million) United States Dollars
deposited as family valuables in a
trunk box with one of the
Security/Diplomatic Company here in
Accra Ghana please i need your help and
i need your urgent reply so that i can
give you the full details of how you
will contact the Security/Diplomatic
company for the shipping of the trunk
box that contains the money in it for
you to receive it in your home
address in your country for onward
investment.
I will be waiting to hear from you as
soon as you receive this mail get
back to me for more details
information's of the trunk box in your country.
Regards.
Miss Sarah Sylla.
sarah_sylla@yahoo.fr
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Anti-fraud resources:
