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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:
- "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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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.
- generalahmedabass@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: General Ahmed Abass <ghstcoltd@gmail.com>
Reply-To: generalpaulmartins@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:31:52 +0100
Subject: Urgent Reply
Hello Dear,
My name is General Ahmed Abass from Libya; I am one of the Gadhafi's special
guards, please I need your Urgent assistance due to the crisis we are facing
in the country now I want you to help me receive the sum of $17.4 million
United States Dollars for safe keeping and investment on my behalf.
Upon the receipt of your response; I will give you full details on how the
shipment will be executed and also note that you will have 30% of the above
mentioned sum while 70% will be for me. If you are really ready to work me
and agree to handle this transaction with trust and honest person then your
urgent reply On my private email: (generalahmedabass@rediffmail.com) with
your complete contact information is needed to me.
I am waiting to hear from you now!
Regards,
General Ahmed Abass.
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Anti-fraud resources:
