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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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.
- 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.
- mr.abdulsaram322@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Abdul Saram." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.abdulsaram322@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2013 04:05:45 +0800
Subject: ATT: Receive Your Long Awaited Funds In 72 Hours.
Att; Receive Your Long Awaited Funds In 72Hours.
I am pleased to inform you that approval has been granted for the
delivery of your Inheritance (US$17.5 Million) to you.
You were made the beneficiary of the funds by a benefactor whose
details will be disclosed to you after you receive the Inheritance.
This is according to the Non Disclosure Agreement that was signed with
the benefactor when he made you the beneficiary of the funds.
Due to the problems associated with transferring large sums of money
from one country to another on a bank to bank basis, we have decided
to have the funds delivered to you in cash with the aid of Diplomats
who have the capability to do so.
Please note that the said funds have been bonded and packaged in such
a way that no amount can be deducted from it.
Reconfirm your Full names, Complete Residential address and your
direct telephone numbers immediately because the Diplomats will have
to speak to you on phone when they arrive your country before
proceeding to your residential address.
Forward the requested information so that I can release the
information that you will use to identify yourself when the Diplomats
arrive your city of residence.
Regards
Mr. Abdul Saram.
E-mail; mr.abdulsaram322@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
