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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- sandrinesoro1111@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms.Sandrine Soro" <misscatherine.robinson@gmail.com>
Reply-To: sandrinesoro1111@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2023 12:41:49 +0000
Subject: Opportunity
--
Dearest One,
My name is Sandrine Soro Ibrahim the only daughter and surviving child of
late ex militia Ibrahim Coulibaly from Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire I am
contacting you to be my partner in investment projects in your country
under your management and control with a huge Sum I inherited from my late
Father which is presently in the bank while i continue my education which
stopped due to the death of my parents in the war that ousted the past
President. I am presently in a secret place here after the war in my
country.
Due to my age, I cannot invest this money by myself because i have no
investment experience, my age and fear of being killed by same people that
assassinated my parents in cold blood on that fateful day.
I wish to invest in your country if i can have your assured support and
willingness to help me sincerely since you are living in a more peaceful
country. I do not know how this can be done but i sincerely want to
complete my studies while you invest the fund in a lucrative business that
will yield us interest.
Kindly get back to me with your full names, complete address and telephone
number so that i may call you and if my proposal does not interest you
please just disregard this email but if it does send me email at:
sandrinesoro1111@gmail.com
Thanks in anticipation and looking forward to your sincere response.
Ms.Sandrine Soro Ibrahim
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Anti-fraud resources:
