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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.
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- rahimabdula@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "RAHIM ABDULA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: < rahimabdula@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:00:01 -0800
Subject: OUTSTANDING PAYMENT
OUTSTANDING PAYMENT
Good day Your Long overdue Payment.I am Mr Rahim a member of the senate committe, I saw your name in the Central Computer among the list of unpaid contractors /inheritance/lotto beneficiaries that was originated from Africa Europe Asia Plus Middle east Americans among the list of individuals and companies that your unpaid fund has been located.
Your name appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a part-payment of $5.7million and has been approved already for months. You are requested to get back to me for more direction and instruction on how to receive your fund. However we received an email from one Mr. Robert Water who told us that he is your next of kin and that you died in a car accident last week. He has also submitted his account for us to transfer the fund to him.
We want to hear from you before we can make the transfer to confirm if you are dead or not.Once again I apologize to you on behalf Of IMF International Monetary Fund,Send to me immediately the following for immediate communication most urgently so that we can start the processing at once.
You are required to send to me the following information to enable me
facilitate the smooth conclusion of the transaction at the earliest.
1) Your Full Name:------------------
2) Your Address:-------------------
3) Your Telephone Number:_______________________
4) Your Fax Number: __________________________
5) Your Mobile Number:_____________________________
6) Your OCCUPATION:______________________
7) Your Age:------------------
Yours Sincerely
Mr Rahim
Email : rahimabdula@yahoo.co.uk
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Anti-fraud resources:
