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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:
- "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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- m_al_fayed@inmail24.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mohamed Al Fayed" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <m_al_fayed@inMail24.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2011 05:12:27 -0700
Subject: RE: HELP FULFILL MY LAST WISH
Hello Friend,
My name is Mohamed Al Fayed and I'm from Cairo, Egypt. I have recently been diagnosed of a terminal disease called Oesophageal cancer which has defiled all form of treatment. I have been told by the doctors that I have limited time to live due to the cause of my ill health. I have been a successful man in the past and done a whole lot of charity work but little did I know that I had cancer. I have an estate to give out to charity organizations since I do not have much time to live. I will appreciate it if you can help me collect this estate of mine (18million dollars) and make distribution to charity homes. I cannot do it myself anymore because of my illness. You will have 30% of the total estate to yourself for your kind assistance. If you are interested please write to my private email and i'll tell you more.
Thanks in anticipation of your swift response.
Remain blessed,
Mohamed Al Fayed
m_al_fayed@inMail24.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
