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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 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)
- "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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: Ayesha Qaddafi <gaddafi769@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ayesha.qaddafi@yandex.com
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2022 09:03:29 +0100
Subject: Dear Partner,
Dear Partner,
I am writing this letter with tears and sorrow from my heart. Let me use
this medium to open a mutual communication with you seeking your acceptance
towards investing in your country under your management as my partner, my
name is Aisha Gaddafi and presently living in Oman. I am a Widow and single
Mother with three Children, the only biological Daughter of late Libyan
President (Late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi) and presently I am under political
asylum protection by the Omani Government.
I have funds worth “Thirty Five Million and Five Hundred Thousand United
State Dollars" -$35.5 Million dollars which I want to entrust to you for
investment projects in your country. If you are willing to handle this
project on my behalf, kindly reply urgently to enable me to provide you
with more details to start the transfer process. I shall appreciate your
urgent reply to enable me to respond back to you with more details through
my private email address. Keep this SECRET.
Visit: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-19966059
Ayesha Qaddafi
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Anti-fraud resources:
