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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million 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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Safia Haassan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <safiahassan@ymail.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 15:45:41 -0000
Subject: Assallamualekum
Peace Be Upon you My name is Madame Safia Hassan Abdel Halim, from Aleppo Syria. my late husband was a business Man and worked under cover for the Government, when the fighting Started he supported the rebels and the Government killed him, they came after my life and my 2 kids but i was rescued thru the United Nation safely to America know where i live with my children. The only money of my late husband That Could i run with is $ 7.5 million dollars which i registered with a security company in London-England i left Syria.now i live in the camp here in America i and my children and i seek for Political asylum to America. i need a good honest and God fearing businessman to help me receive this money in his country and invest money to buy the house and property for i and my children and we can move to live in your country and get Married. Please i will be waiting to your response with your phone number and full name and i am going to hold to your contact via
email.
Best Regards,
Madam Safia
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Anti-fraud resources:
