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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.
- 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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states 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.
- 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.
- hajiyamariaassefshawkat@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Maria Assef Shawkat <cbmbf.rescueteam@gmail.com>
Reply-To: hajiyamariaassefshawkat@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2016 07:51:27 +0100
Subject: HELLO FRIEND
--
Dear Friend,
I am Hajiya Maria Assef Shawkat, wife of late General Assef Shawkat
who was killed by a bomb attack in Aleppo, Syria on 18 July,2012 which
the violence caused hundreds of thousands to flee
their homes as refugees of the Syria Civil war. Late Gen. Assef
Shawkat was Minister of defense until his death. I have in my
possessionUSD18M(Eighteen Million United States Dollars only)currently
in a financial institution, which I now intend to use to establish a
profitable business venture in your country to enable me and my family
start life all over again. I want to invest the US$18M in your
company/country and you will be my guide. I will give you more details
upon your response.
Reply through my private email address: hajiyamariaassefshawkat@yahoo.com
Best Regards,
Mrs Hajiya Maria Assef Shawkat
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Anti-fraud resources:
