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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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
- mr.asadalam1975@citromail.hu (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Asad Alam" <worldbank2@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.asadalam1975@citromail.hu
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2017 13:34:42 +0100
Subject: From: World Bank Financial Experts.
Attention Beneficiary
Based on the final audit of the year 2016 by the World Bank and Swiss
Economic recovery and reconciliation committee we bring to your attention
that we have received the instruction to remit to you part of your
contract/inheritance fund valued at USD$15,500,000.00 (Fifteen Million,
Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) Only which was delayed due to
unforeseen circumstance, at present your money will be transfer to you as
soon as you are able to re-confirm the below information.
Personal Details:
Your Full Names
Physical Address
Occupation
Sex
Your direct cell/ mobile number
You are expected to respond to this email within 2 days using my private
email mr.asadalam1975@citromail.hu to avoid closing your file as
unclaimed.
Regard
Mr. Asad Alam
World Bank Financial Experts
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Anti-fraud resources:
