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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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 orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Morris Bangura <morris_bangura27@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2016 17:48:20 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Hello Dear
Hello Dear,
My name is Morris Bangura, the son of late Chief Dr. Kaabourg Lowis Bangura, My father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant based in Abidjan, the economic capital of Cote D' Ivoire before he was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their outing to discuss a business deal.My mother died in 21st October 1995, when i was only 2 years old. my father took me so special as the only child. Before the death of my father on 3rd June 2012 in a private hospital here in Abidjan. He secretly called me on his bedside and told me that he lodged the sum of (US$16.000.000.00) Sixteen Million United States of America dollars and that he used my name as his only child for the next of kin.
He also explained to me that because of his wealth and some huge amount of money his business associates supposed to balance him from the business deal they had prompted them to poison him and he advised me that i should stay far away from relatives and his business associates because if he dies that they will try to kill me to enable them claim all the wealth. My late daddy told me that i should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice who will assist me receive this money and invest it in a lucrative business ventures
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Now, i want you to know that I am honorably seeking your assistance in the following ways. (1) I want you to help me receive this money for onward investment in your country. (2) You are going to be the manager of this money and also my personal guardian until I finished my studies. (3) You are going to secure admission for me to continue my studies in one of the known university in your country.
I am willing and ready to give you 20% of the total sum for all your efforts to assist me and please note that i need your quick reply because i am currently staying in a hotel under hiding so i would like us to conclude this transaction as quickly as possible to enable me come over to your country and continue my University education. Thanks and please reply quickly if you are interested.
Morris Bangura.
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Anti-fraud resources:
