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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "the 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)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Miriam AL SENUSSI <quynhlt.bhxh@hoabinh.gov.vn>
Reply-To: Miriam Al Senussi <almimi2011@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 24 May 2012 02:24:11 +0700 (ICT)
Subject: Dearest friends
Hello Dearest ,
I am contacting you with a heavy heart because of the recent incidents in my country Libya.Where there has been recent arrests and killings of people from my tribe in Sirte and in Tripoli By the new regime and Former NTC fighters.Due to my Family close relationship with the late Col Ghadaffi,s Government,We are constantly being targeted by the new government and there Sponsors.
I am the ex wife of Dr Abdul Al Senussi. My Husband was a former senior official in the former Government of Col Ghadaffi but my Husband was arrested recently in Mauritania and will soon be handed over to the New Government in Libya.when the initial crises and violence broke out. I have managed to run away for my dear life and now taking refuge in Bamako-Mali. During the time me and my ex Husband served as a senior government official in my country, He managed to save the sum of USD7.5M (Seven million five hundred united states dollars only.) which he deposited with a private security company in Europe.
When I was running away from the my country, I succeeded in bringing along the deposit documents of the consignment since my ex Husband made me the next of kin and beneficiary of the consignment in the event of his death or capture. Please, I will like you to assist me in transferring the fund to your account in your country so that it could be used for investment purposes. I shall reward you handsomely if you assist me with my request.
I shall give you more comprehensive details of this transaction if I receive your favorable response as quickly as possible.
My regards
Mrs Miriam Al Senussi
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