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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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state dollar" (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.
- adel-mohamed2011@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Adel Aly Elwy Mohamed." <adelmohamed@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: adel-mohamed2011@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:23:42 -0400 (AST)
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL
I am Mr. Adel Aly Elwy Mohamed Ragheb Hassan.
Desperate and alone. Egypt assassinated my wife and 1 child. Now I have
nobody left. Pleading you to keep the above misfortune which has never
been publicized and should be kept secret for Egyptians and the country. I
have been kept wise and awakened by reality in Allah. I have managed
myself by hook and crook to elope to LONDON.
I have made up my mind to come to your country to start a new life. TOP
SECRET deal. I am in position with the total sum of US$ 11,800,000.00
(Eleven Million and Eight Hundred Thousands United State Dollars) kept in
a box in a foreign Finance Security Company.
Please help to claim this box to be received in your country for
investment. If you are serious and capable to handle this deal, get back
to me NOW at adel-mohamed2011@hotmail.com with your personal contact
number.
This SECRET DEAL is our gate of success and breakthrough!
Adel Aly Elwy Mohamed.
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Anti-fraud resources:
