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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.
- 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:
- "please indicate your willingness" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- mrselizabeth_uzuzu@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Elizabeth <mr.luismogan@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrselizabeth_uzuzu@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 21 May 2014 09:54:06 +0200
Subject: MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING
Please Contact me via my private email:(mrselizabeth_uzuzu@yahoo.fr)
Hello My Dear,
May my letter be not a surprise message to you; however, it all just
my urgent need for a foreign partner that made me to contact you for
this transaction. I got your contact from yahoo tourist search while I
was searching for a foreign partner. I assured of your capability. And
reliability to champion this business opportunity when I prayed to
good Allah about you,
I am a banker by profession in Burkina Faso and currently holding the
post of assistant foreign remittance director in our bank. I have the
opportunity of transferring the left over fund $39.5 Million United
State Dollars of one of my bank clients who died along with his entire
family in a plane crash. Hence. I am inviting you for a business deal
where this money can be shared between us in the ratio of 50/50% if
you agree to my business proposal Further details of the transfer will
be forwarded to you as soon as i receive your return mail immediately
you receive this letter. Please indicate your willingness by sending
your personal information to me for more clarification and easy
communication. Please Contact me via my private email
:(mrselizabeth_uzuzu@yahoo.fr)
Hoping to hear from you immediately
Yours
Faithfully
Mrs.Elizabeth Uzusu
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Anti-fraud resources:
