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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "SAHIB MOHAMED" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sahibmohammed11@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2012 04:45:57 +0800
Subject: RE:YOUR URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED
Dear Sir
I am Sahib Mohamed the special advice in economic matters to. Saif Gaddafi who is now in the custody of the Libyan government charged with offence related to his late father who happens to rule our country since 43 years. It is true my master’s father have assets worth over $10 billion dollars even the latest is the one Italian government sized worth $1.5 billion excluding other stocks etc.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15804299
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I want to use this chance to inform you that I want you to partner with me so that we can move a total sum of $23 million stashed somewhere in Asia. It will be wise enough for me to collide with you and move these funds out down to your control for us to invest as one partner. I am in a hiding place because of the role I played during the regime of my boss father which the whole world was totally against. I was declared wanted but right now I am safe and ready to run out once this transaction is concluded with you.
Give me an audience so we can move this money out in your name for investment.
Regards
Sahib Mohamed.
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Anti-fraud resources:
