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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found 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: Ibrahim Younes <iyounes@bol.com.br>
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2011 03:01:01 -0200
Subject: Can I trust You?
Dear friend
I need your help to transfer the sum of 7.5 million to your bank account. I am Gen. Fattah Younes son. Gen Younes Fattah was a former internal affair Minister of Muammar Gaddafi, regime and was killed by the rebel during the libya revolutionary war. Since then, I don't know the where about of my mother, brother and sister. At the mid of the crises my father asked me to run with the help of his bodyguard to West African country where this money was deposited. I am still hiding in west Africa. I need to transfer this money to your bank account urgently so that I will leave Africa. I shall be in your country after the transfer. I promise to give you 30% for helping me. Nobody knows that I am still alive. Please keep our relationship strictly confidential.
Ibrahim
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Anti-fraud resources:
