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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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: "sufian_alao" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alaosufian47@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 15:50:32 +0700
Subject: Greetings
Dear Friend.
Compliments of day to you, obviously this message might come as a surprise to you.
I am Sufian Aloa, Ex Syria oil Minister to President Bashar al-Assad. I served the oil minister diligently .I am presently in Syria right now and do not know when I will be out from here as I have duly resigned my position and held by the government for not supporting bad activities and joined my country's citizens who government refused to defend by killing and destroying all their investment. I cannot be against the people I serve.
The crisis in our country Syria is getting worst every day and I have taken this decision and better to die than to be killing and destroying our people. I am sick and now can't do anything due to held by government authorities. You may have a little look over what is happening in our country Syria presently by opening the link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9103136/Syria-open-warfare-on-streets-of-Homs.html
I am seeking your assistance to secure the sum of (Thirteen Million Four hundred thousand United States Dollars) to your country or any safe country as far as I can be assured that it will be safe in your care until I found my way out from here. This money is genuine.(It’s not a stolen money) because don't know if I will be alive or not. I have secured it to a safer place presently. I propose that should you be willing to assist me in this transaction, your share of the sum will be 40% of the total amount, be rest assured that this business is 100% safe on your part provided you treat it with utmost secrecy and confidentiality, please.
The era of our wicked President Bashar al-Assad Government here in Syria has gradually and closely coming to an end with the involvement of United Nation and the Arab league because of his killing and evil activities.You will never regret this help. Kindly signifying your interest in this transaction with your details.
Thanks for your understanding and awaiting for your reply
Yours Faithfully
Sufian Alao
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