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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
- "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)
- ",000,000" (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.
- 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.
- ms-nina-mullah@web2mail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms. Nina Mullah" <ms.ninamullah@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ms-nina-mullah@web2mail.com
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:00:16 +0100
Subject: Greeting: Sir/Madam "Your Assistance Urgently Needed"
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Nina Mullah from Oslo-Norway, I have been diagnosed with esophageal
cancer. It has defied all forms of medical treatment, I have few months to
live.
I have decided to give alms to Charity Organizations and I can not do this
myself because of my health. I have Eighteen Million Dollars
($18,000,000,00) with a Security Company in West Africa - Ghana.
Can you help me collect this deposit and dispatch it to Charity
Organizations if you have feeling for the needs? You will take 20% for your
assistance.
I WOULD WANT YOU TO REACH ME VIA MY PRIVATE EMAIL IF YOU ARE WILLING TO
ASSIST ME. (ms-nina-mullah@web2mail.com)
God bless your interest as you reply urgently.
Yours Sincerely,
Sister Nina Mullah
Anti-fraud resources:
