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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.
- 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. )
- "hundred thousand u.s 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)
- ",500,000" (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.
- 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.
- aliwass195@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Ali Wessam <winningnote0@gmail.com>
Reply-To: aliwass195@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 3 May 2014 09:39:56 +0100
Subject: Compliments of the Day
Compliments of the Day,
My name is Mr Ali Wessam was the former branch manager Bank of
Syria and oversea. Aleppo - Syria.I got to know about you when I
searched your country through web.
The rebels bombed our Bank some months ago, I was lucky to quickly
move the sum of $4,500,000 USD away from the Bank safe, and moved it
to a security company in Europe for safe keeping for now. I want you
to help me receive and invest the money (Four Million and Five Hundred
Thousand U.S Dollars) in your country
I am still in Syria because of my family, I cannot cross the border
with them. I want you to keep this transaction confidential .Please
reply me so that arrangement can be made to handover the funds to you
for investment Purposes.
You will receive 30% of the total funds for your assistance and the
profit from the investment will be 50/50.
Please reply on my private email address (aliwass195@gmail.com)
Thank you
Ali Wessam
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