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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:
- 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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Mumak" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sio.misore@kimo.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:23:35 -0700
Subject: dETAILS..
Please pardon the urgency of this letter;
I am Al-Fuad Mumak, personal lawyer to Late Khamis Al Gaddafi (The last SON of President Gaddafi) who died on Saturday during the attack in Tripoli Libya. The essence of this letter is basically to solicit your assistance in releasing the sum of $3.6Million which was deposited with a security Vault in Europe 2001., the present heat on the family and country at large and owing to the series of confiscations being placed the family's possession could not affect this very amount because it was made with open beneficiary and the certificate is right here with me, Hence securing beneficiary approval will be done at ease.
I am currently in the UK but my family have not been relocated because I need much money to handle everything and that is why I solicit your utmost seriousness to handle this mutual business urgently. The funds will be disbursed 60/40 between you and I; obviously no member of his family has any knowledge of this deposit. Please get back to me indicating your personal details to enable the commencement of this course which will not exceed 3days for smooth accomplishment.
Regards,
Al-Fuad Mumak Esq
+44 (0)705 369 7667
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Anti-fraud resources:
