joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Abdul Qaddaf" <abdulaldamm@yandex.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2016 13:48:40 +0200
Subject: My dear friend.

My dear friend,

How are you today? I know that we do not know each other before now,
however my name is Abdul Qaddaf al-Damm. I am from Libya, but presently in
Europe. I am the son of Ahmad Qaddaf al-Damm the former aid to the former
president of Libya Muammar Gaddafi. I am writing this mail with tears and
sorrow from my heart asking for your help at this time, I got your contact
while searching for a trustworthy person whom I could confide in for
assistance. I have passed through pains and sorrowful moment since the
death of my father, all our Foreign and local accounts have been blocked
and we are not allowed to make transfer or receive money from any country
or source.

Recently I received a worrying email from one of our family friends inside
the present Libyan government that the new Libya government are tracing
hidden deposit and assets deposited by Muammar Gaddafi, his officials and
their families. The reason I am so worried about the news is that before
the death of my father, he brought to my attention to €6.3 Million Euro
deposited in a European bank, which I recently took control of the account
containing the fund being the next of kin to my late dad. I don't want the
Libyan government to be aware of this fund, hence I am contacting you for
your assistance.

Please all I need from you is to provide me a bank account in which I will
relocate the €6.3 Million. I will apply for the transfer of the fund to
your favour as soon as I receive the bank account information from you.
Please time is of essence hence it is important that you provide the bank
account information to me as soon as possible. I will send to you copy of
the certificate of deposit my dad receive from the bank the day he
deposited the fund with the bank for your view as soon as I receive your
reply. I am willing to reward you bountiful for your assistance.

I am waiting for your reply.

Yours truly,
Abdul Qaddaf al-Damm.

Anti-fraud resources: