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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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Barr. Tiko Forest" <mrclint9964@gmail.com>
Reply-To: tikoforest303@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2015 17:01:50 +0200
Subject: HEOLL I BARR TIKO
I Am Barrister. Tiko Forest the personal assistant to the deposed
president of Burkina Faso. I have been mandated by the Former
President Blaise Compore to seek for your partnership to receive an
embezzled fund in an account in the bank which shall refer to you
after. This is to enable him ( the President) empty the account from
trace of the new president.
all you are required to do is to open an Internet banking account with
the bank where the said fund is deposited and the account officer will
transfer part of the fund ( 15 million dollars) to you. The Total
amount in the account is 150 million dollars and we have to disburse
this fund to 15 trusted individual who are ready to partner with us to
enable the president empty the account. After the transfer, I shall
visit you On behalf of the president for sharing. 35% goes to you and
55% to the President. contact me via my private and send me your
Your full name..........
Your private telephone number..........
Your passport or identity card........
Your country....................... ...
Your occupation..............
phone number to enable us speak on
phone.
Regards
Barr. Tiko Forest
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