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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.
- 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)
- ",500,000" (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 orphan scam.
- 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.
- ellakonate@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Ella Konate <ellakonate@live.fr>
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:19:24 -0800 (PST)
Subject: hi
Hello,
It's my pleasure to contact you for a business venture, there is this
huge amount of money Fourteen million Five Hundred U.S dollars
($14,500,000.00) which my late Father Mr. Robert Konate kept for me
in a bank here in Abidjan,Cote D'Ivoire before he was assassinated by
unknown persons maybe the Rebells.
Now I decided to invest this money in your country or anywhere safe
enough outside this country for security purposes. I want you to help
me to transfer this money to your country for investment purposes on
the following below or in any investment of your choice.
1). Telecommunication
2). International School
3). Five star hotel
4). Real estate
If you can be of an assistance to me I will be pleased to offer to
you 20% of the total sum.
I await your soonest response.
ellakonate@yahoo.fr
Extend my warmest regards to your entire family.
Thank you and God bless you
Sincerely
Ella Konate
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Anti-fraud resources:
