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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:
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "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)
- "mr.gabrielkazeem@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.
Fraud email example:
From: "info@gabrie.com"
<responsabileanagrafe.baldissero.canavese@ruparpiemonte.it>
Reply-To: mr.gabrielkazeem@9.cn
Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:45:57 +0100
Subject: Mutual Business Proposal For You....
--
I am Mr. Gabriel Kazeem, one of the personal aides to Saif Al Islam
Gaddafi,the son of the late president of Libya, Mr. Muammar Gaddafi. I
have
urgent and very confidential business proposition involving transfer
of funds worth(Seventy three Million, Nine hundred thousand US
Dollars) that
will be of great benefit for both of us. I will give you more details
as regards this transaction when you notify me of your interest.
If you are in accordance with this to assist in this
transaction,please furnish me with the following information. Your
full name- Present address-
Direct phone number/fax- Reply if interested via email: mr.gabrielkazeem@9.cn
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Anti-fraud resources:
