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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:
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: anita coulibaly <x1025q@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <acoulibaly15@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2013 08:37:34 +0000
Subject: Calvary Greetting,
Calvary Greetting,
I am Miss Anita Coulibaly from Sierra Leone .I am
an Orphan being that I lost my parents a couple of years ago during
the war in Country Cote d'Ivoire.I hope you are aware of the war which
has ravaged this country Cote D'Ivoire for the past years now and before
my father's death he made a deposit of ( $5.5 Million US dollars )
with a bank.
After the burial of my father I call bank to
withdraw the money so that I can start a better life and take care of
myself the Branch manager of the Bank whom I call in person told me that
my father's instruction to the bank that, the money will be release to
me only when I am married or present a trustee who will help me and
invest the money overseas. I have chosen to contact you after my prayers
and I believe that you will not betray my trust. But rather take me as
your own daughter.
Please i want you to help and invest this money in your country, I will offer you 25% of the Total amount.
I am waiting for your
response
Miss Anita Coulibaly
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Anti-fraud resources:
