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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "lome togo" (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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- davidjamesjnr50@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: anthonio James <anthoniojames51@gmail.com>
Reply-To: jeanmichael@safe-mail.net
Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2015 08:02:26 +0000
Subject: Be my partner
Dearest Partner,
I am Mrs. Rosemary James. I am from Lome Togo (A FRENCH SPEAKING
COUNTRY). I am a widow being that I lost my husband couple of months
ago. My husband was a serving Director of Gold Exporting Board in
Ghana until his death. Nobody gave me your contact; I got it in my
search for a reliable partner through internet believing that you will
not let me down.
He was assassinated this January by the wicked Ghanaian due to his
position in office following his new promotion. Before his death he
deposited some money ($10.5M) with a Security Firm abroad. He made me
to know about this deposit before his last breath.
According to my late husband, the money is meant for onward transfer
to his partner for importation of cocoa processing machines and Gold
Extracting Engines. Since he is no more, I have plans to do the
investment in your country with this money, like real estate or
importation of good and industrial production. This is my reason for
writing to you.
Please if you are willing to assist me and my only son David, indicate
your interest in replying soonest and also answer me this few
questions while replying.
(A)What will be your percentage for assisting us?
(B)Tell us little about your self when replying:- particularly what
you do for a living (your work) so to enable us know your capability
of handling this project for us. (C) What is your investment plan for
my family in your country?
Please for further contact I will advice you to call my Son whom will
henceforth assist you with oral conversation since I can not speak
English and moreover the bank is an International Bank that requires
that as I will like you to get to him through this telephone +228
93-268-530 to enable us know your willingness.
Thanks and best regards.
Mrs. Rosemary James.
For more information on how this transaction is going to be, please I
advice you to kindly contact my son on his direct email address:
davidjamesjnr50@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
