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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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Didier and Diana Thompson <afolharegional@milbr.net>
Reply-To: didierthompson59@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 10:52:17 +0000
Subject: Response
--
Hello Our Dearest, Please Very Important
Our warmest and lovely greetings to you. We know that our mail will
besurprising to you since you do not know me and my sister. Please, we
are very sorry if we disturb your privacy. We really wish to contact you
for a businessventure which we intend to establish with you.
The reason why we have contacted you this way is because of the urgency
needed and pressure which we are now facing to find some one to help us
including the political crisis here. Our Late father before he died
deposited a huge amount Seven Million, Two Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars (US$7.2Million) in one
of the leading bank here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire. I and my younger
sister are looking for your help to guide us on how this money will be
transferred abroad so that we can move out of here to continue our
education in your country while you take charge of the investment with
this money.
We are humbly seeking your godly assistance in the following ways; To
provide anaccount into which this money would be transferred and to
serve as a guardian of this money since we are Orphans and still very
young.
If you can be of an assistance to us,we will be pleased to offer to you
30% Ofthe total money. Please,we are waiting for your response urgently
so that we can
discuss more with you.
God Bless you abundantly
Yours Sincerely,
Didier and Diana Thompson
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Anti-fraud resources:
