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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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: pinacule mine <pinaculemine2014@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2014 09:54:10 +0000
Subject: URGENT CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE.
DEAR SIR/MADAM,
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU MY NAME IS/ MRS KONAN IYVES AND
I HAVE ONLY ONE GIRL WITH MY HUSBAND HERE IN IVOIRE COAST AND I AND MY
LATE HUSBAND IS FROM NORTHERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE THERE IS GOLD
FIELD. BE INFORMED THAT MY LATE HUSBAND WAS A CHIEF OF OUR COMMUNITY CALLED
SEGULA BUT HE WAS KILLED DURING THE FORMER INCUBENT GOVERTMENT LAURENT
GBAGBO WHO WAS NOW IN C.P.I FOR TRIAL.
I AM THE FIRST WIFE OF MY LATE HUSBAND AND I HAVE ( $ 7.3 MILLION USD ) IN
A SECURITY COMPANY ALONG WITH 40KG GOLD DUST AND GOLD BARS NOW WITH THE
SECURITY COMPANY WITH MY NAME AS THE NEXT OF KIN AND I AM CONTACTING YOU
FOR YOU TO HELP ME CLAIM THE FUND & the GOLD FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY HERE
IN ABIDJAN.
SIR / MADAM, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM STILL RESIDING HERE WITH MY
DAUGHTER BUT I WANT ANY BODY THAT IS WILLING & READY TO HELP ME CLAIM THIS
FUND AND THE GOLD AND AS WELL WILL STILL STAND TO HELP ME IN MINING
EQUIPMENT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE LARGER QUANTITIES OF THE GOLD FOR YOUR
DESPOSAL SINCE WE HAVE THE MINING SITE WHERE THE GOLD IS MINING LOCALLY.
THANK YOU AND YOU CAN CONTACT ME BACK FOR MORE DETAILS/DISCUSSION FOLLOWING
HOW YOU WANT US TO PROCEED BUT WILL LIKE YOU TO COME DOWN SO THAT YOU WILL
SEE IT ONE TO ONE BUT NOTE THAT I WILL GIVE YOU 40% FOR YOUR KINDEST HELP
BUT YOU WILL BE HELPING ME TO SELL MY GOLD & TAKE YOUR PERCENTAGE TOO.
YOURS FAITHFULLY.
MRS KONAN IYVES.
AGE: 35 YRS OLD.
MY SKYPE ID IS: gold.diamond77
ADD ME IN YOUR SKYPE ID.
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Anti-fraud resources:
