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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:
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- idrisahmed0011@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Ahmed Zakeri Idris" <info@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: idrisahmed0011@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 00:44:44 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: From Dr.Ahmed Zakeri Idris
>From Dr.Ahmed Zakeri Idris
Abuja Nigeria.
For Your kind Attention ,
Though we have not seen before, i have a benefiting project for us. I am
Dr. Idris Ahmed a Nigerian. I work at the Presidency, Federal Republic of
Nigeria. I want you to help handle a financial transaction for further
investment in your country. The fund is an Over-Invoice Contract Payment
to be invested privately in your Country as we may agree.
Can you handle it? Get back to me for Further detail arrangement. I will
take the funds to you directly. It might interest you to know that the
money is
presently in a Finance Firm in London but because of the Civil Service
Code of Conduct i cannot operate a foreign account hence i need to contact
the Firm directly for the the transfer to you for our benefit.
I will appreciate your interest and ability to handle this project without
hitches.
If you can come over in person good, otherwise we will arrange a meeting
before the fund is finally moved to you for safe keeping, and investment.
I shall give you more details when you reply idrisahmed0011@yahoo.co.jp
Regards,
Dr.Ahmed Zakeri Idris
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Anti-fraud resources:
