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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "HELLO" <headfactorcontact@live.de>
Reply-To: abubakrinvest124@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2016 20:49:08 -0400
Subject: DID YOU RECEIVE?
Greeting...
I am Abu Bakr, a rebel leader here in Aleppo, Syria. I came across some money (US$31.5 Million) that was parked in a trunk box in one of President Bashar al-Assad’s ally’s house. I have moved the money out of the war zone to Europe through a Security Group that has diplomatic immunity which was attached to UN Peace Keeping Forces. I am looking for a trustworthy person that can claim the above said money from the security group and then invest it for my little daughter pending when we are going to finish the fight here in my country Syria. Or if I die in the war, my daughter who is 15 years old will inherit everything. I will give you a good percentage of the money for your help. My daughter is in Turkey Refugee Camp and their condition is very bad there.
If you can be of a help kindly get back to me urgently. And if you are not ready for the assistance please and please keep it secret even if you are willing to help me.
If my writing is not too good please try to understand me and be of kind assistance to me, I am not English Man. But I love English. Kindly reply to me urgently.
Yours sincerely
Abu Bakr.
Al-Tahid Brigade Top Commander,
Free Syrian Army (FSA), in Aleppo.
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Anti-fraud resources:
