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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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.
- 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.
- ecobank_97@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: watan <solfia.watan1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ecobank_97@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 01:57:43 +0530 (IST)
Subject: URGENT RESPOND MY HEART CHOOSE TO BLESS YOU.
P {
MARGIN: 0px
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UL {
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}
OL {
MARGIN-TOP: 5px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5px
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#yiv2040787425 P {
MARGIN:0px;}
#yiv2040787425 UL {
MARGIN-TOP:5px;MARGIN-BOTTOM:5px;}
#yiv2040787425 OL {
MARGIN-TOP:5px;MARGIN-BOTTOM:5px;}
MY HEART CHOOSE TO BLESS YOU.
contart the bank true this email Adress ecobank_97@yahoo.fr
Dear friend
i am Mrs Solfia Watan and i have been surfering from ovarian cancer disease
and the doctor says that i have just two days to leave.I am from (limerick)
Ireland but base in Africa Burkina Faso since eight years ago as a business
woman dealing with gold exportation.
Now that i am about to end the race like
this,
without any family members and no child.I have 3 Million US DOLLARS in
Africa Development Bank(ADB)Burkina Faso which i instructed the bank to give St
Andrews Missionary Home in Burkina Faso.
But my mind is not at rest because i am writting this letter now through
the help of my computer beside my sick bed. I also have 4.5Million US Dollars at
Ecobank here in Burkina Faso and i instructed the bank to transfer the money to
the first foreigner that will apply to the bank after i have gone that they
should release the fund to him/her,
but you will assure me that you will take 50% of the money and give 50% to
the offernage home in your country for my heart to rest.You
Your Full Name............................
Your
Sex..................................
Your
Country..............................
Your Marital
Status......................
Your Age.............................
Your
Occupation...........................
Your Personal Mobile
Number....................
Your Personal Fax Number......................
Yours true friend,
Madam Solfia
Watan
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Anti-fraud resources:
