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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:
- "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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Allama Akbar <allama01akbar@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: Allama Akbar <allama01akbar@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 01:58:32 +0900 (JST)
Subject:
Gift From Mrs Allama Akbar N38 Rue Des Martyrs Cocody Abidjan,Cote d'Ivoire.Beloved
I am Mrs Allama Akbar from Pakistan and I am married to Mr Muhammad Hussain Akbar who worked with Pakistan embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in a plane crash incidence with my two daughters and i am left alone so i have dicided not to remarry.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of US$3.5million dollars in a Bank here in Abidjan - Ivory Coast. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Eight months due to cancer problem and stroke sickness, so because of my illness I have decided to donate this fund to a person or organization that will use the money for humanitarian and charity work because i do not have any child that will inherit this fund because the only two daughter which i have died in a plane crash along with their father. My husband relatives are selfish, they refuse to distribute to charity organization some amount of money which my late husband gave to them for charity before this incedence so I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health hence the presence of my husband's relatives around me always.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire. any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another person or organization for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein.
Hoping to receive your reply.
God bless you
Mrs Allama Akbar.
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Anti-fraud resources:
