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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mohammad AL Jililati" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mohammad_aljililati@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 17:03:00 +0700
Subject: Hello Dear Sir/madam
Hello Dear Sir/madam,
Kindly don't be embarrassed with my email to you as i mean no disrespect.My name is Mohammad
AL Jililati,The former Finance minister here in Syria.i am urgently seeking for your
help.Regarding the current crisis we are facing here in Syria,The war has been on since 2011
and it came to worst 22nd August when over 1300 people was killed by presumed chemical
weapon.the government is accusing the former top officers in the government to be working
against the government while the international community,the United Nation,Britain believes
the regime of Syria's President Bashar Assad carried out the attack.The United Nations said
that force could be used if the attack is proven to be the work of Assad regime which means
that more troubles for people of Syria.
Now the Assad government is investigating us and freezing bank account and properties to
amazement of everyone,i have huge amount of money i want to move out from here before the
Assad government seize my bank accounts.I need help if you can help me keep it safe in your
country.i am willing to give you 30% of the total amount if you can help me in keeping it
safe with you.Please let me know if i can trust on you as this is top secret between me and
you.I am urgently waiting for your response.
Regards.
Mohammad.
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Anti-fraud resources:
