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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:
- "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 send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- 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.
- hassan123ahmed@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "AHMED" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hassan123ahmed@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:05:13 +0300
Subject: SEEKING FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE.
Goodday,
My name is Lt. Hassan Ahmed, a nationality of Iraq but presently taking refuge in London United Kingdom under U.N with my Son.
I have an interest to invest in your country in Tourism or Telecommunication or any profitable business you may deem okay with some fund deposited in a Security company as you may know war have torn my country apart leaving me a handicapped due to the bullet wounds a sustained fighting the Taliban’s in my country.
Please if my proposal is okay to you reply me with this email
address:(hassan123ahmed@gmail.com) to enable me give you further details,
Thanks and God Bless you and your Family.
Yours Sincerely,
Lt. Hassan Ahmed.
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Anti-fraud resources:
