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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:
- "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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- ashrafqlim_consultant@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ashraf Al-qawasmi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ashrafqlim_consultant@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:12:50 -0700
Subject: From Ashraf Al-Qawasmi
HEAD OFFICE IN UNITED STATE OF AMERICA
The Pilgrim Financial Group
A Division of Ramadan Enterprises
44 Durham Rd
White Plains, NY 10607
Cell-281-816-4659
Fax; 206-338-5893
Dear Joyce Simpson
Kindly confirm, if you are still interested in the loan; I have a United Kingdom based industrialist who is currently looking for an avenue to make a discrete investment of US$500 Million Dollars, before making systematic liquidation of company. His company is currently running on over a billion dollar deficit and this has prompted his need to put some funds aside before submitting paperwork's for bankruptcy and liquidation.He is willing to invest part of the fund in exchange for 5% yearly interest for a maximum duration of 5 years. However, he will require a corporate equity or original documentation of the proposed investment to safeguard his fund in case of default. If interested, kindly write for terms and possible meeting with my client.Thanks
Your Faithfully
Mr Ashraf al-qawasmi
ashrafqlim_consultant@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
