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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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "NADIA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nadiaabdelrahiman101@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 06:41:34 +0100
Subject: FROM: NADIA ABDELRAHMAN
FROM: NADIA ABDELRAHMAN
RAMALLAH-PALESTINE.
Good day to you. It is with heart of hope that I write to seek your help in the context below. I am contacting you on behalf of my late husband who lost his life in the recent unfortunate Israeli-Gaza Bombing. My late husband had some out-standing sum of funds meant for investment purposes in a security company in your Country. Unfortunately, I am in Ramallah and can't pursue the release of the fund to me and my children because of the Security situation here.
I would be grateful if you can assist me bargain with the security company on the conditions attached to releasing the funds to us. When this is achieved, I would need your assistance in investing the fund into a profitable business venture in your Country while I make arrangements to leave this country with my children alive.
Please understand that I am not well experienced in business related transaction issues such as these and therefore pray that you do not take advantage on me and my family when the funds are released through you on our behalf. For security sake, please
contact me via email for now with your response. As soon as I hear from you, I shall make arrangement to hand the Deposit Certificate and other documents to you on the conditions to work with your assistance.
Thank you for your anticipated co-operation.
FROM: NADIA ABDELRAHMAN
RAMALLAH-PALESTINE.
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Anti-fraud resources:
