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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS. ZAYNAB IBRAHIM" <mrs.zaynabibrahim.2013@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 25 May 2014 19:09:40 +0100
Subject: Urgent Assistance !!!!!!!!
Attention:Dear Friend,
I am Mrs. Zaynab Ahmed Ibrahim a wife to late Ahmed Ibrahim a Minister
during the Gaddafi Government my late husband was sentence to Death
for inciting violence against protesters during the uprising that led
to the Libyan detector’s overthrow in 2011.
Before my late husband died he deposited the sum of (Twenty Five
Million Five Hundred Thousand United Sates Dollars) at May Bank of
Malaysia. Since my late husband died I am finding things difficult for
me and my only son Musa. I am in Benghazi Libya. I cannot come out
here in Benghazi because I am hiding.Monitoring by the Libyan
Authority I cannot make call or receive call please I need your
assistance now?.
Please I need your assistance to assist me to recover this fund in
Malaysia for our mutual sharing and Investment. I will front you in
the bank with the vital documents the fund will release into your
account. This transaction is 100% risk free all the documents of the
fund will be documented on your favor through my Legal Attorney before
the bank will release the fund to you.
Please I need your assistance because I am dying here I cannot move
freely as a human being. As soon as the fund transfers into your
account I will come over to your country for sharing and Investment I
will like to invest into Real Estate in your country.
As soon as you I hear from you I will direct you to my legal lawyer
who will process the necessary documents of the fund on your favor.
Please I am dying I need your help.You can log in into this website
and read more about my late husband sentence at the Libyan Court.
Log into the website:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/08/01/uk-libya-court-idUKBRE9700GT20130801
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thanks
Mrs. Zaynab Ahmed Ibrahim
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Anti-fraud resources:
