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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- hassan_zaki@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: hassan zaki <hassan_zaki@sify.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2010 12:08:03 +0200
Subject: Dear friend
Dear friend
my name is (MR HASSAN ZAKI)
I am the manager of auditing and accounting department Bank of African (BOA), I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of ($10.5m us dollars out from the bank of Africa into your bank account in your country as the real next of kin to one of our foreign customer to enable me and my family come down to meet up in your country for my own shear from the total amount with you according to the percentage and also invest with you if your country is good for both of us to make and establishment with the fund when the fund enter into your bank account
.Age....................................
(2)Residential adress..............
(3) occupation.........................
(4)private telephone.............
I am waiting to hear from you immediately to enable me release all the secret to you immediately to assist me to claim this fund out from the bank of Africa into your bank account in your country for our own benefit.
My greetings to you and your family.
Mr Hassan Zaki
Contact THIS MAIL hassan_zaki@sify.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
