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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:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Abdulrahman Ibrahim" <gokhale@iitk.ac.in>
Reply-To: assalaamuu@zoho.com
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:29:40 +0530
Subject: Enquiries !
I am Abdulrahman Ibrahim a UN attaché to the National Bank of Libya
packaging and courier department. I got your contact and was inspired to
seek your co-operation. I want you to help me clear this package that is
already on it way to your country vide our bank accredited courier agent.
Meanwhile i got involved when i find out that my boss and colleagues where
using this avenue to cargo funds abroad due to the crises in Libya to
enrich themselves. However i also utilized the opportunity to convey my
own en-route to your country for investment. The content in the crates is
a total of $14,000,000.00 all in $100.00 bills. I was careful not to
declare the true content to our accredited courier agent to avoid theft or
diversion.
I am ready to concede up to 20% of the funds to you as your share, if you
will help me receive the package and invest it in your stable economy. And
this must be kept absolutely confidential between us and my identity must
not be revealed under any circumstance to a third party.
Please endeavor to e-mail me back urgently if you are satisfied with the
proposed transaction so that I can acquaint you with the modalities.
Importantly, please note that communication should be restricted to e-mail
in the meantime for security reasons.
Yours faithfully,
Abdulrahman Ibrahim
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Anti-fraud resources:
