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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:
- "dear friend" (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 next of kin 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.
- mrcoledavidson@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: cole davidson <mrcoledavidson@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Jan 2014 12:59:15 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend,
Dear Friend,
I am Mr.Cole Davidson, an attorney and a solicitor at law/principal
attorney(DAVIDSON ASSOCIATES LAW FIRM) A client of mine named (
ENGINEER AHMED O.MUSTAFA ) from U.A.E who worked with SHELL OIL
DEVELOPMENT in TOGO as engineer contractor after his death left
the sum of $8.2 Million United States Dollars in a bank here in my
country. I want to present you to the bank so that you will
act as one of his RELATIVE and let bank transfer his balance deposit
fund to you as the beneficiary. Please is very urgent as
the bank is aiming to comfiscate the account if nobody apply for the
claim of the fund.
NOTE: I have all necessary information and valuable documents needed
to back you up for the claim. All I require from you is
your honesty and cooperation to enable us see this transaction
through.I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Your Full Names:...
Residential Address:..
Private Email Address:..
Telephone Numbers:..
Age:...
Occupation:...
Marital status:..
Send your reply with the following information of yours to this Email:
mrcoledavidson@yahoo.com, I will use it to prepare a
legalization paper on your behalf to enable the transaction go fast.
Thanks.
Mr.Cole Davidson,
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Anti-fraud resources:
