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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 <advocat.coledavidson01@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2014 13:50:27 +0100
Subject: Hello Day Dear Friend,
Hello Day 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:
