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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Al Muttassim B. Al-Gaddafi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <almuttassimg@aol.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2011 22:59:09 +0200
Subject: YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE

Dear Friend,
My name is Al Muttassim Billah Al-Gaddafi, a former Libyan Army officer and the
National Security Adviser of Libya. I am the fourth son of Libyan leader Muammar
Al-Gaddafi. I want to believe that you are familiar with the stories on the media
about the unrest in Libya, as the Libyan National Security Adviser to my father
I have warned him to step aside and allow the people of Libya to have their peace
but he refused, I cannot die with my father, but during this period my father gave
me US$400 Million Dollars cash to keep. I was able to move US$40 Million through
diplomatic immunity luggage system to an undisclosed location abroad for safe
keeping which I will disclose to you if you come to agreement with me.

Due to our restricted movement, I would want you to present yourself as the beneficiary
of the funds, based on this I will issue an authorization letter instructing the
release of the deposit to you under 24 hours of confirmation and verification. You
will be entitled to 30% of the total sum as your share while 60% will be for me,
I will inform you when to transfer my share to me when the problem in my country has
finally calm down. The remaining 10% is to cover all expenses that may be incurred
in the course of this transaction. This arrangement is known to you and me alone for
security reasons. I will not be able to communicate with you on phone because I am
hiding in a secured place. If you are able to handle this deal kindly send email to
me on my private email: almuttassimg@aol.co.uk, I awaiting your positive response,
may Allah's peace be upon you.

Sincerely,
Al Muttassim B. Al-Gaddafi

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