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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:
- "million 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)
- "can i completely trust you?" (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: chrisim <chrisim@cantv.net>
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2011 04:54:25 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Miss Christelle: Your urgent response needed.
From Miss Christelle: Your urgent response needed.
Hello,
Based on your profile,I would like to request for your sincere
assistance believing that you will not betray my trust on you.
I know you would wonder why i contacted you this way?,
Well i really have no other choice but to take the bull by the horns
before it is too late and contact you this way regardless
of the fact that we do not know and have met each other before.
I am Christelle, 17 years of age the only adopted child (daugther)
of a very rich business magnet (a cocoa merchant and gold minner)
who operated in Europe and Asia during his days.
It is sad to say that 2 years ago he mysteriously passed away in France.
His will and testament named me the sole heiress and beneficiary
to his vast wealth and fortune.This goodwill brought me pain,
sorrows and disaster because his relatives vowed never to
allow me a total stranger (according to them)
to touch anything mentioned in the will.
When i involved the law,things took a worse turn as attempts
was made on several occassions to kill me which forced
my fleeing our home for safety of my life.
One of the documents showed to me by my late adoptive father before
he embarked on his last journey stated that he confidentially secured
the sum of 5 Million United states dollars.This money was not
mentioned in the will and thats why only me and now you knows
about this money for now.
I am pleading with you to assist me in receiving this money into your
country and also assist me to come over to your country and continue my education.
Now permit me to ask these few questions:-
1. Can i completely trust you?
2. Can this money be invest in your country?
Please do respond to me urgently if you are capable of assisting me
and i will give you more details.
Sincerely Yours.
Christelle.
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