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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 us 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
- hassanabdull1@mailbox.hu (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Abdul Hassan (Libya)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hassanabdull1@mailbox.hu>
Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2012 05:02:47 -0700
Subject: From Abdul Hassan(Libya)
From Abdul Hassan(Libya)
Reply EMAIL:hassanabdull1@mailbox.hu
I am so sorry for sending you this unsolicited and unexpected mail. I am
Abdulrahman Hassan the senior assistance to the late President Mammaur Gaddafi
who has entrusted to me the sum of $65,000,000.00 (Sixty Five Million US
Dollars) cash in a sealed security luggage and 2000KG of Pure Gold also in a
sealed luggage, few days before he was killed by the NTC Rebels here in Sirte.
My late boss instructed me to escape with this Fund and Gold to Algeria where
his wife is currently in asylum now but I diverted the entire movement of the
Fund/Gold to a secured security vault right now outside Africa. Because I am
personally against all the atrocities he committed against my fellow innocent
Libyans and the looting of our natural resources by him and his family.
Please I seek your indulgence to assist me receive this Fund and Gold for safe
keeping.
Then later we discuss how this Fund and Gold can be disbursed and invested in
any good business field as you may suggest and some part to establish less
privilege centers in your country to help the poor children.
I will give you full details regarding this matter as soon as you respond to
this email. Please treat this matter as urgent as possible as I wait your swift
response to this
regard.Reply EMAIL:hassanabdull1@mailbox.hu
Best Regards,
Abdul Hassan (Libya)
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Anti-fraud resources:
