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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- col_malek211@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "COL.MOHAMED MALEK." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <col_malek211@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2011 23:17:37 +0700
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL
DEAR FRIEND,
I AM VERY SORRY TO CONTACT YOU THROUGH THIS MEDIUM.IT IS DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND MY CONTROL.MY NAME IS MOHAMED MALEK.I AM FROM LIBYA.I AM ONE OF GADDAFI'S SOLDIERS THAT RAN AWAY FROM LIBYA WHEN THE PROTEST AGAINST GADDAFI BEGAN.I NOW RESIDE IN ONE OF THE CITIES IN KINGDOM 0F THAILAND.I CAME INTO KINGDOM 0F THAILAND.THROUGH MALTA.
I AM WRITING TO SEEK FOR YOUR SINCERE AND HONEST ASSISTANCE TO HELP ME RECEIVE THE SUM OF $20 MILLION THAT I MOVE FROM LIBYA WHEN MOAMMAR GADHAFI SENT MY COLLEAGUES AND I TO BOMB THE CIVILLIANS.I DO NOT HAVE THE HEART TO FIGHT MY OWN PEOPLE.HENCE, I RAN AWAY FROM LIBYA.I HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DEPOSITED THESE $20 MILLION WITH A BANK IN THE KINGDOM 0F THAILAND..I WANT YOU TO ASSIST ME TO RECEIVE THESE $20 MILLION FROM THE BANK IN KINGDOM 0F THAILAND.SO THAT THEY CAN TRANSFER IT TO YOU AS THE BENEFICIARY THROUGH THEIR ONLINE BANKING PROCESS.I WILL COME OVER TO MEET WITH YOU IN YOUR COUNTRY TO ENABLE YOU AND I PLAN ON HOW TO INVEST MY SHARE OF THESE $20 MILLION INTO ANY LUCRATIVE PROJECT.
I WILL GIVE YOU 40% OF THE $20 MILLION FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORTS.WHILE THE REMAINING 60% OF THE $20 MILLION WILL BE MINE.
IF YOU ARE WILLING AND READY TO ASSIST ME, KINDLY SEND ME THIS INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY.
1.YOUR COMPLETE NAME.
2. YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS.
3.YOUR PERSONAL PHONE NUMBER.
4.A SCAN COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION.
I WILL GIVE YOU THE COMPLETE DETAILS OF THE BANK WHERE THESE $20 MILLION IS DEPOSITED AFTER YOU HAVE SENT ME THESE REQUIRED INFORMATION. PLEASE, KINDLY REPLY THROUGH THIS EMAIL: col_malek211@yahoo.co.jp
THANK YOU.
COL.MOHAMED MALEK.
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