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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:
- "million 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.
- 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.
- hilary_brouu@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "dougbo_john@libero.it" <dougbo_john@libero.it>
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 01:44:45 +0100 (CET)
Subject: FROM JOHN HILARY B.DOUGBO / URGENT FUND USD$32.5 MILLION DOLLARS
TRANSFER ASSISTANCE.
DEAR SIR / MADAM.
I AM AN ORPHAN AND A BOY OF 24 YEARS OLD WHO LOST HIS PARENTS DURING THE RECENT IVORY COAST WAR. I AM LEFT ALONE IN THIS WORLD AS I AM THE ONLY CHILD OF MY PARENTS.
BEFORE MY FATHER DIED HE DEPOSITED THE SUM OF USD$32.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN A BANK HERE IN IVORY COAST AND I HAVE GONE TO THE BANK SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD LOOK FOR A GOOD PARTNER THAT WILL HELP ME WIRE AND INVEST THE MONEY SINCE I AM STILL A CHILD.
AS OF NOW I HAVE NO OTHER OPTION THAN TO SOLICIT YOUR HELP / ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THE FUND USD$32.5 MILLION DOLLARS WIRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT OVERSEAS.
MY FATHERS RELATION ARE AFTER MY FATHERS AND MOTHERS WEALTH AND EVEN THEY HAVE THREATENED TO KILL ME SO RIGHT NOW I AM SLEEPING INSIDE A CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR FEAR OF MY LIFE.
IMMEDIATELY YOU SIGNIFY INTEREST TO HELP ME I WILL THEN GIVE YOU THE COMPLETE DETAILS OF THE BANK AND THEN I WILL INTRODUCE YOU AS MY FOREIGN PARTNER AND THE BENEFICIARY TO THE USD$32.5 MILLION DOLLARS.
AS SOON AS YOU WIRE THE MONEY OUT FROM IVORY COAST YOU WILL QUICKLY ARRANGE FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY SO THAT I CAN START A NEW LEASE OF LIFE / CONTINUING WITH MY EDUCATION AS I WANT TO BE A DOCTOR IN FUTURE.
FEEL FREE TO TELL ME ANY PERCENTAGE THAT YOU WILL COLLECT FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND ALSO YOU WILL HELP ME TO INVEST MY OWN SHARE OF THE MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY AS I WILL LIKE TO CONTINUE WITH MY EDUCATION.
REPLY BACK TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS
hilary_brouu@rediffmail.com .
THANKS,
JOHN HILARY B.DOUGBO
EMAIL: hilary_brouu@rediffmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
