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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:
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
- 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.
- aishaalhajji@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Aisha Al-Hajji" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <aishaalhajji@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2013 00:22:49 +0200
Subject: Friendly Greetings
ENDEAVOUR TO USE THESE FUNDS FOR ORPHANAGE CHILDREN AND WIDOWS.
I am Mrs. Aisha Al-Hajji from Kuwait and I am married to Dr. Ahmad Al-Hajji who worked with Kuwait embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in the year 2005. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we were both born again Christians. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of U$18,000,000.00 (Eighteen Million United State Dollars) with one finance/security Company in Europe, Presently this money is still with the Security Company.
Recently my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months due to cancer problem. What disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this Fund to church or better still a Christian individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in. I want you to use this fund to fund orphanages homes and widows. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't want my husband's hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner. I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health and because of the presence of my husband's relatives around me always. I don't want them to know about this development.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact information of the Finance/Security Company in Europe, I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove you as the original- beneficiary of this Fund. Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for a church or Christian individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated here in. I will want you to retain 30% for yourself for your generous work and, 10% for any expenses if there is any upon the completion of the transaction while the balance funds are to be used as explained above. I will give you the contact information of our lawyer in Europe who will guide you on the processes of how you can contact the security company for the release of the funds to you upon your acceptance to stand as the beneficiary to the funds.
Remain blessed in the name of the Lord, as I hope to hear from you soon
Yours in Christ
Mrs. Aisha Al-Hajji.
Email: aishaalhajji@aol.com
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