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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "million 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- "very confidential" (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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ali Aujali" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zoology.02@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2011 08:34:54 -0400
Subject: READ
Attention,
I am Mr Aujali, Libya Ambassador to the United State. I am very sure you are aware about the Political Unrest going on in my country. I and My Family are presently in United Kingdom for security purpose.
Reason for contacting you is to Invest In your Country. I am a very close to Muammar Gaddafi’s sons, Khamis who died in hospital on Monday (21/3/2011) following a weekend attack on a residence in Tripoli.
Late Mr Khamis Registered a Huge amount of Money in my Name and No one is aware about it. The total amount is $30,000,000.00 (Thirty Million United State Dollars). I Have contacted Mr Khamis Late wife to Inform her because She is not aware about it. It was very confidential between I and Mr Khalis.
To make the story short all Traces to Gaddafi wealth are being trace and once any one is confirmed it will be confiscated. I am seeking your assistance to transfer the Funds to you in your country. Late Khalis wife is willing to offer you 20% of the total funds.
Reason for our contact therefore is to have this money amounted to USD 30m transferred to you in your country. We have done our home work carefully and do not expect any hitch. Be informed however that 30% of USD30M shall go to you for your corporation. Please we expect your earliest response. The transaction is expected to take three days. Once you confirm your interest i will write you on how the transaction will be done and be 100% assured that it is 100% risk free. You can call me anytime for more clerification.
Ali Sulaiman Aujali
+447700074569 / +447035957532
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Anti-fraud resources:
