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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "million american 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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- zakohange@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Covenant trust <covenanttrust3@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 15:49:20 +0000
Subject: Can i trust you?
>From Miss. Ange Muna Zakoh
Ivory Coast West Africa
Email:zakohange@yahoo.com
Hello Dear,
I am Ange Muna Zakoh from Ivory Coast and I am contacting you because
I need your help in the management of a huge sum of money that my late
father left for me before he died.This money is in USD5.5 million
American Dollars and the money is in a bank here in Accra the capital
city of Accra, West Africa.My father was a very rich oil merchant and
he was poisoned by his business colleagues and now I want you to stand
as my guardian and appointed beneficiary to receive the money in your
country for investment since I am only 22 years and without mother or
father.Please I will like you to reply to this email with this
information's.1.Age(2)Residential address(3)occupation(4)private
telephone and also familiarize with me, so that I can give you the
deposit paper and all the information's that you will need to get
this money transferred to your account and you will help me get
papers to travel to meet you in your country to continue my
education,while you invest my part of the money on my behalf in a good
viable business in your country.
I am waiting for your urgent reply.
Thanks.
Miss. Ange Muna Zakoh
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Anti-fraud resources:
