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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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "wajihs@9.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: "Wajih Samara" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wajihs2@9.cn>
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:58:07 -0700
Subject: From Wajih in Libya
My Dear Friend,
Assalaamalaikum
I am Wajih A. M. Samara (Jordanian) living in Tripoli, Libya. I seek your urgent cooperation to take delivery and keep safe my funds pending the resolution of the current crisis in my country. Before this uprising, I am a businessman in Libya dealing on GOLD & DIAMONDS and made good savings from my business. I have withdrawn all my money from the bank and packaged it in a consignment labeled as GOLD & DIAMOND but concealed in it is the sum of USD12 million in cash. The box has just been safely moved out of Libya a couple of days ago with the help of a British Diplomat, for safety of the funds following the recent political protest against the government and I am anti-Muammar Gaddafi and support the protesters. I do not want Muammar Gaddafi barbaric government to seize my funds at the bank here. Presently I have receive email from the diplomat confirming he has safely moved the box away and deposited it safely for me a diplomatic courier warehouse abroad. I am writing you to assist me receive this box in y
As soon as I receive your reply mail I shall forward your information to the diplomatic courier company abroad to contact you for the delivery of the box to you as my proxy. I shall send you the Power of Attorney to present to the diplomatic courier company so that they can release the box to you. Please help me and reply me immediately you receive this mail via my email: wajihs@9.cn
Your friend in need,
Wajih A. M. Samara
(Tripoli, Libya)
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Anti-fraud resources:
