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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)
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- ahmedhassan_00@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ahmed"<ahmed2hassa2@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 05:53:06 -0800
Subject: A MINUTE OF YOUR TIME.
Dear Friend,
I am one of the Personal Assistance to the late President El Hadj Omar Bongo of Gabon.I am contacting you in order to ask for your assistance on this confidential business proposal with full financial benefit for both of us. I have a substential huge amount of money deposited by Mr President Omar Bongo in a security firm which his son Ali Bango is not aware of it.The Money was deposited three weeks before he died.
I am Presently in London Because i cannot go back to my country for now.As soon as you get intouch with me i will tell you all the modalities that is invovled in this project.
I am waiting for your quick reply.
My privet email address:ahmedhassan_00@yahoo.com.hk
My Regards,
Mr ahmed hassan.
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