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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "million 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.
- 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.
- bbhussain2@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Alhaji Hussain Ahmad" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bbhussain@gmx.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:36:20 +0100
Subject: I Need You To Assist Me In Establishing A Business In Your Country abbu
Dear Friend,
I am interested in investing in your country the sum of Twenty Million Dollars.I am based in libya but due
to the present politial crisis i have decided to look for a new place to settle.
my name is Alhaji Hussain Ahmad, a Slovakian based in Libya.
I am a retired Business man,formally into Oil and Gas business.I am 62 years of age,
married with awife and 4 lovely kids. I have had so much problems with the Libyan
Authority just because am a foreigner I believe.My need for this business proposition
and to acquire these properties is very
urgent as I am planning to move out of this country with my family down to
your country. I want you to also help in finding a good home where my family
and I will live in. Please reply to my personal email
as soon as you receive this message so we can communicate further: bbhussain2@yahoo.com
Sincerely,
Alhaji Hussain Ahmad
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Anti-fraud resources:
