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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:
- ",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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Ana Francis <anafrancis334@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2012 21:42:16 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: From Ana Francis
From Ana Francis
From Cote D'Ivoire
West Africa
My Names is Ana Francis I'm 19 years of age, I am contacting you for urgent assistance of the transfer of my funds in your country. I am an orphan I lost my parents. My late father was a trader of cocoa and timber until his death.
He was murdered by the enemies during the political crisis here. Before his death, he made a deposit of Seven million Five Hundred Thousand U.S.A dollars ($7,500,000.00) here in Ivory Coast. This fund was intended to buy a cocoa processing machine before the civil war in this country.
I am requesting your help retrieve this fund Safety in your country or any safer place of your choice before I come to meet with you to investment agreements and the continuation of my education. Please indicate your true willingness and ability to help me out of this situation.
I will tell you more details as soon as I read from you soon. Contact me for more details:
Thank and have a nice day.
Yours Baby
Miss Ana Francis
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Anti-fraud resources:
