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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:
- "million us 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Hassan Jamal
Reply-To: <hassanjamalsyria9983@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2015 11:00:53 -0600
Subject: MUTUAL BENEFIT
Hello: I am Hassan Jamal I represent the interest of my brother in-law who =
is a Minister in the Syrian Government. As you probably know, there is a lo=
t of crisis going on currently in Syria and my brother in-law is a Minister=
on the side of the ruling party. Right now , he is considering defecting t=
o the side of the Syrian government opposition as he has publicly opposed t=
he decision of the Government to use weapons of mass destruction on our own=
people, there is also every reason for him to secure his family=92s future=
in case the unexpected happens. He has asked me to help him find a reputab=
le foreigner who can help him accommodate and invest $60 Million US Dollars=
privately. Hence my reason for contacting you. We need your help to accomm=
odate and lodge the funds in the banking system in your country. We will ha=
ndle the logistics involved in the movement of the funds to you. Please not=
e that the entire business will be executed in a legal way. My brother in-l=
aw has promised to give you a well deserved compensation for your troubles.=
He would also like for you to help invest the funds in a lucrative busines=
s in your country. You will be entitled to part of any profits made from in=
vesting the funds. Due to his position in the Syria Government, he wants th=
is to be done discretely and he would want to keep his identity confidentia=
l. I will be acting as his eyes and ears during the course of this transact=
ion. If this proposal interests you, please kindly respond ASAP so we can g=
o through the details together. Regards, Hassan Jamal
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Anti-fraud resources:
