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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.
- 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:
- "million us 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)
- 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.
- sy.alhussein@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. hussein" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sy.alhussein@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 14:05:58 +0700
Subject: where I can invest to sustain
Assalamu-alikum,
I am Hussein Ali from Syria, presently now with the United Nations
on asylum. I got your contact from a web business directory on
investment. Please I seek your assistance in the following ways:
1.To assist me look for a profitable business in your country (where I can
invest to sustain my living until the political crisis in my country is
over).
2. To assist me purchase a living home, .I have huge sum fifteen million us dollars in
financial institution .Should there be a need for an evidence, or a
prove of my seriousness and genuineness. I have a Certificate of Deposit as
a prove of fund.
Please assist me to come over to your country for resettlement and
investment. I will compensate you greatly for this help. I am also ready to
associate with a local partner, provided
Your Government will give me a Residence Permit.
Could you please send me an email on (sy.alhussein@gmail.com ) to enable me know you
have received my email.
Regards,
Hussein Ali.
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Anti-fraud resources:
