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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)
- "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)
- ",000,000" (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.
- 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.
- mariamvieir@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: mariam <mrsmariamvieira001@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:32:54 +0100 (BST)
Subject: In confidence / Mrs.Mariam Vieira
In confidence / Mrs.Mariam Vieira
Hello Dear,
I am Mrs.Mariam Vieira. from Ivory Coast
in Africa. It is my desire to contact you on honesty and sincerity to
assist me in transferring the sum of $8,000,000(Eight Million United States Dollars)
inherited from my father late Dr. Vieira Okon to your country for
investment. I am motivated in contacting you and hope to gradually build
trust, relationship and confidence in you as I get to know you more
better.
So please I
want to know if you will be of assistance but first I want to get to
know you better. I am willing to offer you $1,600,000(One Million Six
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) for your effort input after the
successful transfer of this money and investment. Indicate your interest
towards assisting me by sending your phone # and address to me so that I
can communicate with you at any time. I will be waiting for your
response for delay is dengerous due to the political assults in my
country Cote D'Ivoire.
please contact me private email mariamvieir@yahoo.fr
Thanks
Mrs.Mariam Vieira.
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Anti-fraud resources:
