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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:
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "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.
- 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.
- hannibalgaddafi1@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "HANNIBAL GADAFFI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hannibalgaddafi1@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:28:04 +0530
Subject: LETTER OF URGENT ASSISTANCE
DEAR SIR.../MADAM.
COMPLIMENTS OF THE DAY. I KINDLY WANT TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE, MY NAME ARE HANNIBAL GADDAFI JNR. A CITIZEN OF LIBYA. PRESENTLY I AM IN WESTERN PART OF
AFRICA MAKING ARRANGEMENT TO CROSS INTO INDIA. I AM. PRESENTLY SEEKING FOR A RELIABLE AND TRUST WORTHY FELLOW TO ASSIST ME OF MY FATHERS" MONEY WHICH I TRANSFERED VIA UNITED NATIONS MILLITARY ATTACHEE TO MY FATHER.
THE SAID AMOUNT IS FIFTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS($55M).
I HAVE DONE A REASONABLE RESEARCH AND FIND OUT THAT IT IS NOT EASY FOR A FOREINER TO HAVE AN ACCOUNT FOR SUCH A HUGE AMOUNT, SO I WOULD LIKE YOU AS A CITIZEN OF INDIA TO ASSIT ME BY TRANSFERING THIS MONEY INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT, AND TWENTY(20%) PERCENT WILL BE OFFERED TO YOU FOR THE ASSISTACE AND SAFE TRANSFER OF THE MONEY. THIS MATTER IS A VERY SERIOUS ONE AND I WILL LIKE TO FINISH THIS TRANSACTION IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS SO THAT I CAN GO BACK TO MY COUNTRY. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO YOU BECAUSE I FEEL THAT YOU ARE WELL SETTLED AND HAVE A COMPANY OF YOUR OWN.
PLEASE IF YOU ARE INTRESTED DO CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.FOR PROPER VERIFICATION, YOU CAN CONTACT ME ON MY PERSONAL EMAIL ID.... hannibalgaddafi1@hotmail.co.uk
+22997689290.
PLEASE SEND YOUR PERSON INFORMATION LIKE..
1.YOUR NAME..
2.CONTACT NUMBER..
3.AGE AND SEX...
4.YOUR BANK DETAILS..
5. COUNTRY/STATE..
6.YOUR OCCUPATION...
THANKS FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CO-OPERATION.
THANKS,
HANNIBAL GADDAFI JNR.
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Anti-fraud resources:
