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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million 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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Josephine kamokai <josephine_kamokai5@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2018 11:27:03 +0000
Subject: Good-day.
Good-day.
Sir
First I must solicit your strictest confidence in this transaction and I pray that my contacting you will be given genuine approval considering the fact that we are not too familiar with each other. I wish to use this opportunity to introduce myself to you. I am Josephine kamokai, I am writing to inform you of my desire to invest into real estate in your country or any profitable venture.
I am the first daughter of Joseph kamokai who was the former Diamond Board Director of Sierra-Leone. My father was attacked by the (RUF) rebels on his way to Lucia a northern part of Sierra-Leone and my father sustained injuries and he died few days later.
Before his death he revealed to me a box containing $20 million US dollars which he deposited with a security company for safe keeping. My father did not disclose the content of the box to the security company to avoid unwanted circumstance.
Presently I and my brother kenny kamokai are here to notify the security company of the claims and we are staying in the refugee camp.
Therefore I want you to lecture me on how best we can invest this money in your country because my father told me that it is dangerous to invest in Africa to avoid suspicion and due to market instabilities coupled with economic and political situation facing Africa economy. For your assistance myself and my brother have agreed to offer you 30% of the total amount of the money as your commission.
We have all the vital documents covering the deposit and the ownership which I can send to you.
Note: I have never disclosed this transaction to anybody apart from you so please keep it very confidential.
Best regards.
Josephine and kenny
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Anti-fraud resources:
