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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:
- "can i completely trust you?" (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.
- larryken2010@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: thehindu@web1.hinduonnet.com (may be fake)
Reply-To: larryken2010@hotmail.fr
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:15:48 +0530
Subject: Article from The Hindu: Sent to you by larry ken
Urgent Attention from an Orphan child
after going through your profile, I was convinced and I feel I should tell you about this.
I am Larry Ken, After the death of my mother, my father took over the family business alone until he was poisoned by his business associate after he was given the chairman of the association in Abidjan known as the economic capital which he suffered the sickness and died recently, he quickly sent for me as the only born son before his untimely death.
He told me all about this US$8.5 millions, he deposited here in a bank on my name as next of kin. You will stand as my guardian that will help me settle in your country to continue my education while you invest the money in real estate or any lucrative venture; I am honourably seeking your assistance in the following ways: Please I need your assistance in this ways.
1. Can I completely trust you?
2. I will offer you 20% after the transfer, will you like it?
3. Can you help me to come over to your country and further my educational carrier?
No matter what your decision may turn to be I humbly begging you to reply to me.
Thanks and God bless you
Larry Ken.
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This article has been sent to you by larry ken ( larryken2010@hotmail.fr )
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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2010/08/22/stories/)
Copyright: 1995 - 2006 The Hindu
Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly
prohibited without the consent of The Hindu
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Anti-fraud resources:
