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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Rammie Marcelli" <rammie@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mmrsrammie@yahoo.com.mx
Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2013 23:25:01 +0100
Subject: confidential
Dear Sir/Madam,
CLASSIFIED
Please permit me to make your acquaintance in so informal a manner as
necessitated by my urgent need to reach a dependable and trust worthy
foreign partner in this crucial time. This request may be strange and
unsolicited but I will crave your indulgence and pray that you view it
seriously. My name is Rammie Marcelli. I am a senior special aide and
close confidant to late Khamis Gaddafi who was killed during the Libya
war in 2011. Late Commander Khamis Gaddafi was the youngest son of
Col. Muammar Gaddafi. He was the commander of the Libyan Army's elite
KHAMIS Brigade before his untimely death.
Before the UN Security Council No-fly Zone was passed over Libyan on
17 March 2011 Commander Khamis Gaddafi moved abroad US$36Million to
buy arms. The money was put under my custody as a front and close
confidant of the commander. The money was meant for the purchase of
some special arms and ammunition for his command. Our negotiations
with the suppliers were at its early stage when incidentally the
NO-Fly zone and arm embargo was imposed on Libya government by United
Nation Security Council. Commander Khamis is dead and the money is
abandoned.
The money is currently kept in a Security and Finance Company outside
Libya. I am in need of a reliable and trustworthy foreign partner who
can assist me to move the money out of the Security and Finance
Company to his private or company account abroad for safety-keeping
and maximum protection. I have the relevant deposit papers required to
claim the funds from the Security and Finance Company.
Though we have neither seen nor met each other before but i believe
with trust and understanding, we can do business together. I would be
glad if you accept my offer and give me the assistance and cooperation
i need from you. I would want us to work as a team and ensure the
successful transfer of the fund to a safe custody in your country.
Your entitlement is guaranteed.
Thus, if you are willing to assist me move the money into your
business, please contact me through my email address so that I can
give you more information and to enable us discuss the modalities. I
am also willing to discuss with you what will be your share
(percentage) for your assistance and roles. I must use this
opportunity and medium to implore you to exercise the utmost
indulgence to keep this matter extraordinarily confidential, whatever
your decision is, while I await your prompt response.
Thanking you in advance.
Mrs. Rammie Marcelli
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