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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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Ahmed Salam" <mr.ahmed01salam@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2014 20:33:48 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: TREAT VERY CONFIDENTIEL AND URGENT RESPONSE.
​Dear Friend,
This message might meet you in utmost surprise, however, it is  due tomy urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact you forthis transaction. I am a banker by profession from Burkina Faso inwest Africa and currently the bill and exchange manager of the bank.Ihave the opportunity of transferring the left over funds of($15million) of one of my bankclients who died along with his entirefamily on 31 July 2000 in a plane crash.
Hence,i am inviting you for a business dealwhere this money can beshared between the both of us in the ratio of 50/40 while 10% will bemapped out for expenses. If you agree to my business proposal.furtherdetails of the transfer will be forwarded to you as soon as i receiveyour return mail.
Yours Brotherly,Mr.Ahmed Salam.
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Anti-fraud resources:
