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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:
- "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: "Miss Viviane Toure" <info200@stametstossolenginc.com>
Reply-To: vivianetoure1980@outlook.com
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2019 17:21:44 -0700
Subject: Can i trust you?
Good Day
I am compelled to write to you because my life is in serious danger and I need your urgent help. I am Viviane Toure 25 years old from Republic of cote d'ivoire. I am the only child of my late parents. Before the untimely death of my parents in the last Political Crises that hit our country, My Father was the special adviser to the former President on Economic Matters. My father confided in me of the sum of $6.5m (Six Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars which he arranged nicely in a Security box and lodged in my Name with a Trust Company in London. After the death of my parents, I have contacted the security company and they have confirmed the deposit.
My late father’s brother has gotten notice of this money that is why he is plotting to kill me so he can claim it. I am therefore appealing for your assistance to get the money out of the security company over to your country. Once the money gets to your destination, you will then assist me to come over to your country so we can invest the money in any profitable Business. I will give you 30% of the money for your honesty and assistance.
As you can see, this is a matter of urgency because my life is not safe here. I will appreciate your urgent response and I promise you won’t regret helping me.
Best Regards,
Miss Viviane Toure
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Anti-fraud resources:
