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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:
- "the 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)
- "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)
- "million united states 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Hisham Umar" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hishumar@blumail.org>
Date: Sun, 18 Sep 2011 01:10:51 -0700
Subject: Investment assistance needed.
Hello,
I wish to present this proposal for the purpose of investment in your country. My name is Hisham Umar, I am the son of Sami Abu Umar a military General in Muammar Gaddafi's Government who was killed in the ongoing revolution sweeping my country Libya.
Before the death of my father, he sent a note to me regarding a deposit of the sum of US$45 Million United States Dollars from excess crude oil account which he deposited with a Security Company. He instructed me to move immediately with the documents to a neighbouring country to seek asylum. I moved to Niger Republic where I spent some time before finally moving to the United Kingdom with the help of United Nation officials.
Right now I have located the Security Company, and have also discussed the possible release of the consignment deposited with them by my late father. During the deposit, my father left a clause that I have to introduce a trusted foreign partner who would be my trustee to help me invest these funds hence the need for your assistance.
I request that you be my trustee and assist me in effecting the release of the consignment to your country for investment. You will also be responsible for the investment and management of the fund for me/family and also you will help me get a good school where I will further my education in your country.
we will agree on a percentage you will take for your assistance. Please let me know immediately if you can assist me so that I will give you further information about the deposit.
I thank you in anticipation to your quick response.
yours sincerely,
Hisham Umar.
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