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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (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.
- kabiruwahid1@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: ka wa <kabiruwahid001@gmail.com>
Reply-To: kabiruwahid1@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:39:45 +0000
Subject: REPLY IMMEDIATELY!!!
REPLY IMMEDIATELY!!!
Dear Friend. I Know That This Mail Will Come To You As A Surprise As
We Never Met Before. I Need Your Urgent Assistance in Transferring The
Sum of ($15.5m) Into Your Bank Account, After Hearing From You I Will
Give You More Details about the Transaction. Your full Data’s Will Be
Required To Enable Me Draft An Application Form Which You Will Fill
And Apply To Our Bank For The Release Of The Transfer In Your Name.I
am Waiting For Your Urgent Respond To Enable Us Proceed Further For
the Transfer Of This Fund into Your Account.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Kabiru Wahid.
Call+22677185985.
kabiruwahid1@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
