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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 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Adir Kamir." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.adirk@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2013 21:30:37 +0100
Subject: FOR YOUR ATTENTION:
FOR YOUR ATTENTION:
I am sorry for the in prompt request of your assistance since it is obvious that we have not met before now. This communication was as a result of Egypt crisis that remove president Mubarak from power.
Please forgive me for this unusual manner of contacting you, but this particular letter is of exceptional and very private nature. My name is Mr.Adir Kamir, the brother in-law to Mr. El-Gamal Mubarak (President Hosni Mubarak's son) I am seeking for your assistance in accommodating the sum of US$120M (One Hundred and Twenty Million United States Dollars) which is currently in a financial house .
All I need from you is to receive the Fund as Mr. El-Gamal Mubarak's business Associates and Invest the fund into any Lucrative Investment in your country. He is willing to remunerate you with 30% at the end, the most important thing is that you must keep to your trust in this transaction because I will not want you to betray us at the end. Please in your reply,
include your telephone number and your residential or company address for easy Communication.
Remember that this transaction must keep secret forever. More details shall be giving upon your acceptance of the transaction.
Regards,
Mr. Adir Kamir.
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Anti-fraud resources:
