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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- ism.ab@post.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Ismael Abbas" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ism.ab@post.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2014 03:35:48 -0700
Subject: Business Invitation...
Compliment of the day to you and your family my Dear Friend,
I write to seek your cooperation as my foreign partner and your assistance to enable us to own properties and invest in the stable economy of your country. I apologize if this mail does not suit your personal or business ethics.
My names are Dr Ismael Abbas, We are making this venture proposal to you in strict confidence. As senior civil servants in the Syrian Government, the Syrian civil service laws (Code of Conduct bureau) forbid us to own a foreign account. The capital we have in our possession which is safe guided which we want to move abroad with the assistance and co-operation of a company/or an individual to receive.
If you will like to assist us as a partner and you will not betray us, kindly indicate your interest.
A swift acknowledgment of your receipt of this mail will be appreciated.
Thank you and God bless you.
Best regards.
Dr Ismael Abbas
Email: ism.ab@post.com
Ministry Of Petroleum And Natural Resources
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
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Anti-fraud resources:
