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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:
- 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:
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Yao" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gnamienyao@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:04:44 -0800
Subject: IMMEDIATE HELP !!!!!!!!!
Hello,
This is an urgent call for your assistance. I am Ambassador Yao Gnamien special adviser to the incumbent president of Ivory Coast Mr. Laurent Gbagbo.
Due to political crisis in my country between my president and the opposition leader Mr. Alassane Ouattara backed by the western counties for supposedly winning an election, has requested the entire eastern world to freeze any account belonging to my president and his close associates which the United States has reacted upon.
It is based on this development that I have the mandate of my president to contact you to help us in putting this sum of money (Twenty two million Four hundred thousand United States dollars only). ($22.4million) in safe keeping by accepting to receive it on our behalf.
I will furnish you with details of this transaction if you accept to assist. For your efforts we shall discuss what remuneration I will give you when you show your interest.
I wait for your quick response
Thanks and God Bless,
Ambassador Yao Gnamien
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Anti-fraud resources:
