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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your humble assistance" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Emily Brown <emily-brown2011@live.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:22:45 -0800 (PST)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?KEdyZWV0aW5ncykgRnJvbSBFbWlseSBCcm93buKAjw==?=
Dearest One,
          Please i am introducing myself and also for a joint business relationship with you. My name is Miss Emily Brown from Cote d'Ivoire. The only surviving Daughter Of Mr Calistus Brown who dealt on Timbers during his days Before he was shot by an assassins hired by his brother on his business trip to Ethiopia. My mother and my only younger brother happened to be a victim in the incident while I was schooling abroad which i dropped out from school due to the sudden death of my father and i am willing to complete my education with your humble assistance and favour. Honestly, I am in serious agony and pains since the death of my parents. Meanwhile a week before the incident took place, we had a family meeting and my late father informed us that his brother threatened to kill him. Due to fear, he informed me about all his documents and some personal information including the deposit certificate of USD$15.5 Million that was issued to him on
the day he made a deposit. Now I want you to help me provide an account where this money will be transferred into for an investment in your country. I will offer you 40% of the total amount for helping me and use the other 60% for an investment in your country after my education. And i want you to understand that i am all yours and i am willing to do and share things together with you. I also promise to respect and love you forever. I will give you the contact of the bank director who will give you more information and directives on how you will receive the money in your account.
I have discussed with him on my plans to transfer the money into your country and he supported the idea so that my wicked uncle will not locate me and kill me.Waiting to hear from you quickly for your kind response and contact details so that i will give you more details. Please reply me for more details.
Â
Thanks
Emily
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Anti-fraud resources:
