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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- 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.
- kamadiouf2017@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Kama Diouf" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kamadiouf2017@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2017 13:00:47 -0400
Subject: ATM NOTIFICATION
Dear Friend
I never intend using this message to offset you, but to create direct
contact with you as regard my situation. God has directed me to you, who
you can be of help to me.
Before I proceed further, I am Kama Diouf, the son of Chief Johnny, a famous farmer from Zimbabwe.
Who was killed during the fight against white farmer that lasted over two (2) years? Before the
death of my father, he had already deposited the sum of $25 million United
States dollars under the care of private security financial firm waiting
for immediate onward transfer of these funds.
I hereby invite you as my foreign benefactor to this transaction. I believe
that you can stand to represent me and my family to invest this money
wisely on our behalf in your country.
I agree to offer you 25% for your assistance and another 5% for any cost
that you might incur during this short time to conclude this transaction.
I wait for your urgent response as to proceed.
Thank you.
Email: kamadiouf2017@gmail.com
Kama Diouf
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Anti-fraud resources:
