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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)
- "trunk box" (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.
- hussainala61@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Hussain Al-Ali <hussainala61@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 14:32:26 -0700
Subject: Re: Investment Offer
Dear Friend,
My name is Hussain Al-Ali , and I want you to honor this message and act on
my instruction quickly if you really want us to have success.
This is not scan letter as time will prove to you as we precede on this my
proposal. I was a body guard to Saif al-Islam the son to the late Muammar
Gaddafi former Libyan president.
It happens that I'm the one he uses to send for errand for his
private/confidential properties in countries around the West African sub
region. He has one trunk box deposited in a security vault company in Ghana
West Africa .The fund is in US dollar currency in Jute box. My boss is no
longer in power as he is now languishing in house arrest waiting for United
Nations tribunal for war crime trials.
The trunk box contains US dollars currency of about $35 million USD.
I am only looking for trust worthy foreign investors who can help me
transfer these funds from Africa for joint business investment.
I shall negotiate your commission with you if you are capable and
interested.
Your urgent response to this letter will be greatly appreciated
Regards,
Hussain Al-Ali
Email:hussainala61@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
