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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- aishreal200@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Aisha Gaddafi <aishag200@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 15 May 2015 14:29:34 +0100
Subject: PLEASE HEAR MY CRY AND HELP ME
Dear Sir/Madam,
How are you today I am very sure that this mail will come to you as a
surprise rather I will like you to reciprocate this trust to handle this
transaction of great magnitude.
I am Aisha Gaddafi, former Libyan Head of charity group.
The Daughter of late former Libyan president Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
I am contacting you because of the problem I had in my country after the
death of my father on 20th October 2011 which caused me to flee out of the
country up till now.
I needed a trusted fellow that can handle some part of my money for me
until I plead with my country and return back then we can use it for
investment in your country there. my country must ask me to declare my
access before accepting me back, fail to do so I will be arrested and
sentenced to death.
Therefore I need your assistants to provide an account where I will put
the sum of fifty five million united state dollars in before declaring my
access to my country. ($55.000, 000.00.) 20% of the money will be given to
you for providing the account. As soon as you provide the account with all
your full contact information and promise to co_operate with me I will give
you the entire document.
I am wanted by Interpol Please hear my cry and help me, let it be
confidential because of my condition. I anticipate a
positive response from you.
Yours sincerely,
Aisha Gaddafi.
REPLY TO: aishreal200@gmail.com
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21886072
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Anti-fraud resources:
