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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Audet Bernard <audetbernard01@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Audet Bernard <audetbernard01@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2015 18:40:20 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Introduction.
Dearest
One,
Â
I am Miss
Audet Bernard 19 years old from Cote d’Ivoire ; only child/Daughter of Mrs.
Angelina Bernard.
Â
My Late
mother deposited in one of the banks in Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire in my name as the
next of kin before she died which amount is ($5.5m) five million five hundred
thousand united states dollars.
Â
I seek your
permission to remit this amount into your account so that i could come to your
country for investment and to further my studies.
Â
It is my
intention to compensate you with 25% of the total sum for your services and the
balance will be my capital in your establishment. Please do respond immediately
you receive this email for more information’s regarding the transfer.
Â
Yours
Faithfully,
Miss Audet
Bernard.
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Anti-fraud resources:
