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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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 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.
- ahmk1960m@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. AHMED KHIZER KHAN" <mrahmed.k1960cj@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ahmk1960m@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 16:15:13 -0800 (PST)
Subject: FROM AHMED KHAN
Hello Dear,
I am Ahmed Khizer Khan, A citizen of U.A.E. For your kind attention, I
will be very glad if you do assist me to relocate a huge amount of money
that is in my bank. All i want is your cooperation so as to make the bank
send you the fund as the beneficiary next of kin.
This transaction will be of a great mutual assistance to us. Send me your
reply of interest so that I will give you the details. Strictly send it to
my private email account: ahmk1960m@yahoo.com.hk or send me your
email address to send you details of this transaction.
At the receipt of your reply, I will give you details of the transaction.
And a copy of the Deposit certificate of the fund and also the
incorporation certificate of the company that generated the fund.
Best regards,
MR. AHMED KHIZER KHAN.
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Anti-fraud resources:
