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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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs A.Aziz" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gemdirectcc@webmail.co.za>
Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2011 10:18:12 +0200
Subject: I am Seeking Lucrative Investment Opportunities or Joint Venture
I am Seeking Lucrative Investment Opportunities or Joint Venture in any
Profitable Business venture you may deem ok and This is a legal transaction and the funds are legally mine
I am Mrs Aisha Abdul-Aziz residing temporary here in Johannesburg,South Africa
and I was wife to Late Engineer Al-Abdul-Aziz who was the chief Accountant with
National Oil Corporation Libya and also a close confidante of Libyan President.
Its unfortunate that my husband was killed as Libyan rebels battle Muammar
Gaddafi's forces for the eastern oil town of Brega
But Before then my husband had moved US$12million dollars to South Africa for
Investment Opportunities.The fund was deposited in my son's name Fahid Abdul-Aziz as the beneficiary
whois presently in United Kingdom as a Student Asylum Seeker(Refugee)
Would you consider assisting us as requested kindly contact my son in UK,
Mr Fahid Abdul-Aziz +447924590261 or get back to me on Email
Address
Please note this is RISK-FREE and we will have a business meeting with my Lawyers
present to sort details and procedure for choice of Investment Opportunities or
Joint Venture
Thanking you for your anticipated co-operation in advance.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs.Aisha Abdul-Aziz
For The Family.
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Anti-fraud resources:
