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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:
- "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: ez05@btbz.biz
Reply-To: <habhmed2013@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 17:11:15 +0200
Subject: Dearest
>From Madam Habiba Ahmed.
My Dearest,
I am Mrs.Habiba Ahmed. I am married to proffessor Ibrahima Cisse Ahmed who before his death was a lecturer with one of the Universities here and a wealthy cocoa Merchant here in Cote d'Ivoire.
We were married for 23 years with a child. Before the death of my husband I was diagnosed with cancer but recently my doctor told me that I would not last for long due to this cancer illness. My late husband left the sum of US$6.5million United States Dollars in a fix/suspence account in one of the prime bank here in Cote d'Ivoire.
What is disturbing me most now is my present health situation bothering on the future of my only son and his studies having known my condition I decided to seek for your kind assistance and gesture to assist him invest this sum in any profitable venture that will guarantee his future since he has no knowledge of the investment world.
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Please indicate your interest and willingness in this transaction by writing back to me through the above email address. I have agreed to offer you 20% of the total sum for your kind gesture, assitance and helping him to manage the investment.
I want your maximum cooperation and keep this as confidential while looking for a very nice school where he will study as he relocate to meet with you immediately after the transfer is done.
I am sincerely waiting for your kind and urgent response as soon as your receive this mail.
My sincere regard.
Mrs.Habiba Ahmed.
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Anti-fraud resources:
