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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:
 -  "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. )
 
 -  "million 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 orphan scam.
 
Fraud email example:
From: yasmin hassan <missyasminhassan@gmail.com> 
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2014 10:51:15 +0000 
Subject: Please help me 
 
Dear sir 
 
I am writing you this mail with tears on my eyes which I believe that 
the most high God will touch your heart and your spirit for you to 
read and understand my situation position at this moment  and will be 
happy if you can help me out. I am miss Yasmin Amina Hassan,26 years 
old and the only child of late Dr and Mrs Mohamed Hassan. 
It is my urgent situation that make me to contact you immediately 
through this means of communication (internet) as it is the best and 
easiest way of immediate communication with you,  My late father 
during his life time is an exporter  of gold and diamond  based in 
(Cote d'Ivoire)  My late father got the infection (EBOLA VIRUS 
DISEASE) during  his trip to  buy gold in  (Conakry in Guinea) west 
Africa with my mother. And that was how they got contaminated. My 
father and my mother died of this uncontrollable Virus called (EBOLA). 
 
For more details you can consult the website below: 
 
Website: http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/guinea/ 
 
I was in Cote d'Ivoire and was waiting for the returns of my father 
when one early morning he called me and notified me that they are not 
allow to leave the country,Guinea again because they have been 
contaminated. 
 
My late father later called and revealed to me that he has deposited 
the sum of $4.5 million dollars in a safe box with a security company 
here in Cote d'Ivoire before his travel and that he used my name as 
his only child and next of kin. He revealed to me that during the time 
of depositing  the safe deposit box  that he did not disclose the real 
content of the box to the security company  for safety and security 
reasons. 
 
 He explained that he declared it as containing  family valuables and 
important  business documents for security reasons. He told me that I 
will need to present a guardian to the company according to the 
agreement he made with the company before the safe box can be released 
to me. He warned me that once I am successful in getting a trust 
worthy person to assist me I should make sure that I leave Africa 
immediately. 
 
I have decided to source for a neutral person to assist me in 
contacting the company as my guardian and business partner. 
 
I am honorably seeking your understanding and assistance in the 
following ways hoping you will be so kind to assist a lonely and 
vulnerable woman. 
 
1) To assist me and contact the company to shipped the safe box 
containing the money to your country for investment. 
 
2) To serve as the guardian of this funds and take me into your family. 
 
3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further 
my education and to secure a residential permit for me in your 
country. Moreover, I am willing to offer you 15% of the total sum as 
compensation for your effort /input after the successful transfer of 
this fund to your country. 
 
I WILL BE VERY HAPPY IF YOU CAN SAVE MY LIFE AND HELP ME RECUPERATE 
THIS SAFE BOX FROM THE COMPANY IN IVORY COAST TO YOUR COUNTRY SAFELY. 
I will need the following information from you to enable me present 
you to the company: 
 
Your full name 
Your private and direct telephone line 
Your address 
Your occupation 
 
I will send you the contact of the company as soon as I hear back from you. 
 
Thanks very much for your understanding 
Awaiting your response 
Yours sincerely. 
Yasmin Hassan 
 
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