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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Abubakar Saud" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <abubakarsaud55@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 09:05:10 -0700
Subject: Mr. Abubakar Saud
Dear Friend
I am Mr. Abubakar Saud, a London based business consultant for a top politician in oil rich Saudi Arabia. This personnel asked me to source for a credible foreigner with whom he can jointly invest with in business.
He has US$53,600,000.00 (Fifty Three Million Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars),in with a reliable Finance House in Europe with a payment center in Malaysia and Canada where the funds can also be recieved.
Due to his public nature, he prefers to be anonymous at the moment hence I have been given the mandate to source for someone like you.
This is the proposal in summary:
[1] My client who is a top politician in Saudi Arabia wants these funds to be invested through a well established businessman abroad who can front for him without disclosing his identity.
[2] All that is required is your ability to handle the funds and willingness to invest and manage this funds for him under profitable business.
[3] You may be required to be avaliable at the Finance House or any of the payment centers for you to receive these funds for the investment. All claim and deposit documents shall be made avaliable to you.
Thank you so much for your kind understanding while I wait for your response urgently.
Best regard,
Mr. Abubakar Saud
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Anti-fraud resources:
