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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:
- ",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)
- 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.
- ahil17@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Aahil Hassan <indra.prayitno@faasri-net.co.id>
Reply-To: "ahil17@yahoo.com" <ahil17@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2012 15:22:17 +0700 (WIT)
Subject: Help me and my family
My name is Aahil Hassan N,
I am a Syrian industrialist and a member of Syrian business men council In Damascus. My family is under the threat of
President Bashar Al-Assad for our resolute support for a true democratic Government in Syria.
Due to the current President Bashar al-Assad protest in the country as you can find out in this website
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2193950/Syria-Fears-massacre-Syrian-government-dozens-dead-bodies-buried-mass-grves.html.
Many families are running for their dear lives as soldiers are killing civilians, women,pregnant women and
children. I want to bring to your notice that I have in my possession the sum of (Six Million five hundred thousand
dollars) $6,500,000 in my possession which i am ready to spare 10% of the money for your help.
This is the money I have saved for my entire life as an industrialist and I have it stored in my house because putting
money in a bank at this time could be a very big risk in a country like ours.
Please i will find it very grateful if you reply to me immediately for further details on how to help me and my family and
receive the money and secure a good house for us because we will need to move out of here to another country for security
and good living.
I pray you may find a place in your heart to ignore this medium i have contacted you through which is my last option.
Write me back Urgently here as my private e-mail: ahil17@yahoo.com
You will have our family pictures and further details once i hear back from you.
Aahil Hassan Habil
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