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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:
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: MISS BEATRICE AKA <akabeatrice@rocketmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2011 14:47:35 +0100 (CET)
Subject: HAPPY NEW YEAR
GOOD DAY
FROM: BEA AND PRINCE AKA
DEAR ONE,
WITHOUT ANY DOUBT I KNOW THAT THIS MAIL MAY COME TO YOU AS
A SURPRISE BUT IT IS BORNE OUT OF GENUINE NEED FOR URGENT
ASSISTANCE.
I AM MISS BEATRICE AKA THE DAUGHTER OF FORMER FINANCE
DIRECTOR OF SIERRA LEONE GOLD AND DIAMOND CORPORATION MR
MARCUS AKA WHO WAS ASSASSINATED BY THE REBEL FORCES LOYAL
TO MR FORDAY SANKOH DURING THE PEAK OF THE CIVIL WAR IN
OUR COUNTRY SIERRA LEONE. BEFORE MY FATHER DIED,HE GAVE
OUR MOTHER A DEPOSIT CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT MEANT FOR A
SECRET DEPOSIT FOR THE SUM OF USD15,000,000.00 MILLION.
MY MOTHER WHO LATER DIED OF HYPERTENSION SIX MONTHS AFTER
THE DEATH OF MY FATHER,ON HER SICK BED TOLD ME TO COLLECT
THE DOCUMENTS AND PRESENT THEM TO THE FIRM IF SHE
EVENTUALLY DIES AND ENSURE THAT I SOURCE FOR A TRUSTED AND
RELIABLE FOREIGNER PARTNER TO ASSIST US RETRIEVE THE MONEY
FROM FIRM TO HIS OR HER COUNTRY ABROAD AFTER WHICH I AND
MY YOUNGER BROTHER PRINCE WILL JOIN THE PERSON FOR THE
INVESTMENT OF THE MONEY IN GOOD BUSINESS AND FOR MY
YOUNGER BROTHER TO CONTINUE HIS EDUCATION.
THIS WAS THE INTENTION OF MY FATHER BEFORE HE DIED. I HAVE
PRESENTED THE DOCUMENTS TO THE FIRM AND THEY ARE AWAITING
FOR THE FOREIGN PARTNER OF OUR LATE FATHER DETAILS
ADDRESS.THIS IS ALSO IN LINE WITH THE AGREEMENT MY LATE
FATHER ENTERED INTO WITH THE FIRM AT THE TIME OF DEPOSIT
THAT THE DEPOSIT WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO ADDRESS OF THE
BENEFICIARY WHOSE NAME HE DID NOT DISCLOSE TO THE FIRM.
YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AN CONTACT DETAILS WHERE WE
WILL SUBMIT TO THEM.
YOU WILL ALSO BE IN CUSTODY OF THE MONEY PENDING WHEN I
AND MY BROTHER PRINCE WILL JOIN FOR THE INVESTMENT IN GOOD
BUSINESS AND FOR PRINCE TO CONTINUE HIS EDUCATION.
PLEASE DO NOT EXPOSE THIS TRANSACTION AS THERE ARE A LOT
OF BAD THINGS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD NOW.WE TRUST AND
HOPE THAT YOU WILL NOT SIZE THE MONEY WHEN IT IS
TRANSFERRED TO YOUR COUNTRY BEFORE WE JOIN YOU IN YOUR
COUNTRY.
GOD WILL BLESS YOU FOR ASSISTING US.
BEST REGARDS
BEA AND PRINCE AKA
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Anti-fraud resources:
