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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- gaddaffi_mariam@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mariam Gaddaffi <mariamgaddaffi30@zipmail.com.br>
Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 11:28:01 -0300
Subject: Dear Friend.
Dear Friend.
I am quite sure that this mail will surprise you since we did not know each other before. But I searched & got this e-mail contact through Google.com I am Mariam Gaddaffi 17 years of age, the only daughter of late Mo’tassim Gaddafi,Libya president son who is also late. My reason of contacting you is because I am looking for a Trustworthy person that can help me transfer the US$15.5M my father deposited in the security company with my name as the next of kin and serve as a guardian to me since I am still a teenager I will give you 30% of the money if you help me but you will still take care of me by investing my own share with your name in your country while I further my education. This deposit was made during one of our trips last 2years to COTE D IVOIRE before is death.
Reply to gaddaffi_mariam@yahoo.com if you can and and i will give you more details on how the claim of this fund will be done i
n your name.
Regards
Mariam Gaddaffi.
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Anti-fraud resources:
