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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:
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- galaibe29@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "galaibe29@aol.com" <elsamoya@coomevamail.com>
Reply-To: KEYSTONE BANK
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:46:52 -0500
Subject: Your interest to help
Dear Partner,
My Name is Dr. George Alaibe, Director Allocation/Foreign Transfer
Dept. Keystone Bank. I am writing to you in good faith and trust for a
mutual benefit. I would like you to help secure the sum of US$
9.7million which is an over draft of an already executed contract
issued to a client of us by the federal government.
The said fund is secure in an account only known by me and two other
of my colleagues, as we are still serving as executives in the bank we
cannot move this fund into any of our offshore account this is the
reason I have contacted you for an assistance to help us secure the
money to your bank. All necessary document and papers would be made
available to you as soon as you indicate your interest to help
facilitate the transfer of this fund
Note: for your involvement we have agreed to part 30% of the total sum
as compensation; if you are okay contact me immediately.
I look forward to your response via this my private galaibe29@aol.com
Thanks,
Dr. George Alaibe
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Anti-fraud resources:
