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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)
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Florance Yaogo" <chris@esmtp.co.za>
Reply-To: florance.yaogo@outlook.com
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2016 23:54:10 +0200
Subject: Thanks for your respond.
Greetings
I am Mrs. Florance Yaogo, a banker by profession. It is true that we have
not met each other in person before and It was this random search that
yielded your contact email address which i now sent this my business
proposal to you because i cannot do this myself due to the deceased
customer was a foreigner to my country, but i strongly believe that no
trust or Friendship in every business and there are 99 % of business
transaction going on all over the world today but all works out with
matured trust and understanding.
I have a deceased customer's abandoned fund in the bank where i work,
which i am his personal financial adviser before his accidental death and
that has being the main reason why i contacted you and i would like to
share this information with you in line with this inheritance fund of (USD
$9.2 Million Dollars) Nine Million Two Hundred Thousand US Dollars
in-which you will be rewarded with 39% of the total sum, 9% to the less
privilege & charity organization home. Therefore before i disclose the
full details to you, i will like to know your interest and willingness to
assist me with assurance of trust.
Thanks and best regards,
Mrs. Florance Yaogo
Private Phone number: +226-64-19-73-97.
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Anti-fraud resources:
