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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- rasmur12658@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR.Al-Rashid Munir" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rasmur12658@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 08:59:50 -0800
Subject: LETTER FROM AL-RASHID
Dear sir/madam,
I am Al-Rashid Munir Chief Financial officer citibank Malaysia . You can know more about me at our bank official website: www.citibank.com.my/ /terms/Directorscitibankbank.htm .
I would like you to indicate your interest to receive the transfer of (Thirty Million, five hundred thousand United State Dollars.).
I will like you to stand as the next of kin to my late client whose account is presently dormant for claims. He died in a plane crash on the 31 July 2000 and I have sent routine notification to his forwarding address but no response. After some time, I finally discovered he died along with his family members in a plane crash. You can confirm the genuines of the deceased death by clicking on this,
website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
Please once you are interested kindly send me the following details
information below.
1.Full Name .................
2. Private tel....................
3. Your Age........................
4. Your Country.....................
5. Your Occupation..................
Best REGARDS,
Al-Rashid Munir,
rasmur12658@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
