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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 united states 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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: MARIE CHRISTINE TANOH <mctanoh1980@gmail.com>
Reply-To: infooffice650@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2023 16:29:21 +0000
Subject: YOUR FUND;
ZD ASSOCIÉ
VILLE 10009,BIU 05
GRAND - BASSAM 401
ABIDJAN, CÔTE D'IVOIRE.
YOUR FUND;
MY FIRM IS THE TRUSTEE AND EXECUTOR OF THE FUND AND ESTATE OF LATE
PHILANTHROPIST - THOMAS MOTA OF BLESSED MEMORY.
HE WILLED HIS FUND TO YOU TO BENEFIT AND USE WISELY. THE FUND IS THE SUM OF
USD6.2 ( SIX MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) AND IT'S
DEPOSITED WITH A TRUST BANK HERE IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE.
YOU WERE RECOMMENDED TO HIM BY ONE OF HIS NUMEROUS FRIENDS ABROAD WHO
WISHED YOU GOOD.DURING HIS LIFETIME, HE HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 80 YEARS AND
THE HOLDING BANK HAS CONTACTED AND VERY WILLING TO RELEASE AND TRANSFER THE
FUND TO YOU FOR PROPER USE AS OUTLINED BY LATE THOMAS MOTA.
PLEASE ENDEAVOUR TO GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ENABLE ME
CONCLUDE MY JOB OF FACILITATING RELEASE AND TRANSFER OF THE FUND TO YOUR
ACCOUNT.
I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON TO DETAIL YOU THE PROCEDURES TO COMPLETE THE
TRANSFER. I WILL BE WILLING TO HELP WITH YOUR POSITIVE RESPONSE TO PROCEED.
KIND REGARDS,
MARIE - CHRISTINE TANOH
SENIOR MANAGER.
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Anti-fraud resources:
