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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "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)
- ",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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "abidjan" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: janice whiley <janicewhiley2@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: janicewhiley2@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:56:51 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: From: MRS.JANICE WHILEY
From: MRS.JANICE WHILEY
Avenue 8 Zone 4
Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire
West Africa.
Hello dear,
It's my pleasure to contact you for a business venture,there is this huge amount of money Eight million US Dollars ($8,000,000.00) which my late Husband MR.EDWARDS WHILEY kept for me and my only son in a security firm here in Abidjan the capital of Cote d'Ivoire before he was assassinated by unknown persons.
Now I and my son have decided to invest this money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside this country for security purposes. The people that assassinated my husband are now in plan to kill my only son and myself. I want you to help me to transfer this fund to your country for investment purposes on the followings below, Or to establish in any investment of your choice. My husband was assassinated during the political crisis here in our Country few months ago, and the people that assassinated my husband are now in plan to take away everything that belongs to my late husband.
1). Telecommunication
2). International School
3). Five star hotel
4). Real Estate
5). Charity Foundation
If you can be of assistance to me I will be pleased to offer to you 20% of the total sum while 5% will be for miscellaneous expenses incurred during the transaction.
I await your soonest response.
My regards and wish.
Thanks and God bless you
Sincerely
MRS. JANICE WHILEY
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