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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:
- "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)
- "abdulhakimmohamed@ibibo.com" (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: "Dr. AbdulHakim" <abdul0013@ibibo.com>
Reply-To: abdul00013@ibibo.com
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:29:42 -0700
Subject: US$28.5MILLION BUSINESS PROPOSAL
Dear Sir,
I want to seek for your assistant to move through your help a total sum
US$28.5Million from a private security company where it is presently
been deposited to your bank account by wire transfer or by shipment to
you as a consignment to your country through a diplomatic shipment
company. This transaction is legal and risk free, you only need to
contact the security company with the DEPOSIT CODE information i will
forward to you to make the claim. I wait for your reply to send full
details to you. Reply me only to abdulhakimmohamed@ibibo.com
Dr. AbduHakim Mohamed from Tripoli Libya.
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Anti-fraud resources:
