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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million us 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.
Fraud email example:
From: akbarnora2@zipmail.com.br
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 20:17:37 -0300
Subject: hi
I Alshaban Akbar Nora,am from Libya and my husband is one of the late Gaddafi sons driver.
it was my husband who took Gaddafi family to Niger and Algeria when
they ran from Libya. but he came back to Libya and died when their
convoy was hit by NATO bomb. but he told me something very important
when he was alive. he told me how he took some money from Gaddafi son
and kept it in a Security Company Ghana. He said the money is in Us Dollars
$10.5 million Us Dollars and also 40 kilos of gold which he kept in one of Biggest security company in Ghana. I am in Federal Refugee camp now in only speaks to my son and he write this details before i send to you because i have all my trust and believe in you that with your assistant that i will have success with you and my son.
Thanks
Alshaban Akbar
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Anti-fraud resources:
