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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "international court of justice" (not involved with lotteries)
- 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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "liberia" (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.
- 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.
- bradley.taylor37@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Rherien Rhidia" <qv4f5@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2013 10:50:40 -0400
Subject: offer yxm
INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP
Good day to you, I hope you are doing fine. I am of the opinion that this letter of offer may astonish you since it came from an unfamiliar person. However it is about going into joint venture with you. I am Mr. Bradley Taylor, the son of former Liberia leader Charles McArthur Ghankay Taylor who has been jailed by the International Court of Justice In Hague Netherlands on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Please note that my father’s first son has taken custody of all my father’s property and left me with nothing thereby going contrary to my father’s instructions. His reason is that my mother was a mistress to my father and was not married to him.
Recently I was privileged to visit my father in prison through his Lawyer whom he sent to look for me. When I arrived he instructed his Lawyer to release a certain document to me which he said contains deeds of lodgment with a security Firm in Europe. He cautioned me not to waste the money or invest in England and urge me to find investment in South Africa, America, Canada, Australia or Asia for security reasons. I have through the Lawyer visited the security Firm with the documents and they confirmed everything in my favor and are ready to release it upon my request. I have as well visited a few places on my father’s instructions. I decided to write and solicit for your assistance to help me invest this money in your country. The money in question is Eighteen Million United States Dollars (US$18M)
I am ready now to conclude the logistics of getting the money out of the security firm in Europe. Please if you are interested in assisting me kindly contact me via this email address below. We shall discuss the share ratio that will accrue to you for your assistance as well the investment opportunities. Most importantly keep this transaction very confidential.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours truly,
Mr. Bradley Taylor.
Email: bradley.taylor37@yahoo.com
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