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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:
- "here in london united kingdom" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million pounds" (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)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: MISS MARY JOHNSON <mrsahalamabdul@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: MISS MARY JOHNSON <maryjohnson80@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 22:31:47 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Assalamu alaikum
Assalamu Alaikum
I
am Mrs, Aarifah Jamal from london united kingdom. an aging widow
suffering from long time illness. i am currently admitted in a private
hospital here in london united kingdom, And my late loving husband
Mr.Usman Jamal. We where married for 11 years without a child,
Before
his sudden death we are Muslim family When my late husband was alive he
deposited the sum of 2.Million Pounds (£ 2.000.000.00 GBP) in a fix
deposit account with one of the bank here in London using my name as the
beneficiary since we could not bear a child,
Presently
this money is still with the bank here in United Kingdom and i am very
sick from cancer of the lug despite the fibroid and tumor which denied
me a child when my husband was alive, As a result i may not last till
the next two months according to my doctor report so i want to donate to
a Muslim organization or individual who will use it to work for Allah
and i have choose you after making several praying consultations.
I
want this money to be sheared among the next privileged since i do not
have a child to inherit it and my late husband relatives are all
Non-believers and i don't want my husband heard earn money to be used by
unbelievers since I am sure that they will not utilize the money in the
way I have directed to. Hence the reason for taking this bold decision
Thank You
Mrs Aarifah Jamal
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
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Anti-fraud resources:
