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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:
- "liberia" (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.
- mrs.adajidani@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Adaji Locombi Dani" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.adajidani@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2011 21:49:18 -0800
Subject: GOOD DAY
Good Day,
Please don't be surprise over this message from me as we have not met each other before. I am (Mrs. Adaji Locombi Dani) a Widow from Liberia and i have a Son by name Pascal Locombi Dani.
I am presently in Accra Ghana . I write to request your co-operation to secure an opportunity to invest and go into joint Business partnership with you.
I have a deposit of substantial capital which was made with a Safe Keeping company by my late husband. I honorably want to invest jointly with you into a lucrative business venture which will be managed by you.
I have really gone through so much depressions in the past while in Liberia which is my reason of being in Ghana at the present for safety and also to lay claim to the deposit since I and my Son are the only hair to my late husband and as such we have the Administration Letter to that effect.
The essence of this message is to open up communication with you to enable us know each other as regards to our plan to secure the deposited funds and invest it jointly under your care.
I shall give you all the detailed information and my family background as soon as i hear back from you.
Kindly get back to me via email: : mrs.adajidani@gmail.com
God bless you as I look forward to hearing from you with your contact phone number and full names urgently.
Best wishes,
Mrs. Adaji Locombi Dani.
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Anti-fraud resources:
