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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 state 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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- mahalalghunaim1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Maha Al-Ghunaim" <carliholmi@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mahalalghunaim1@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2021 09:57:35 +0100
Subject: FIRST GULF BANK DIRECTOR
FIRST GULF BANK DIRECTOR
Greetings dear friend,
How are you doing today? I believe you are doing great?
I am Ms. Maha Al-Ghunaim and I work with the First Gulf Bank, Dubai (UAE).
There is an
opportunity I will like to discuss with you. Kindly write back if you are
interested so I can tell you more about it in details
as soon as i receive your
urgent response.
I am very sorry sending you email instead of posting this letter to you.I
did
it because of the
urgency involved.
Please bear with me and take this very serious and top secret also call me
after going through this mail.
I will give you more details after hearing from you.Also note that this
Is all about moving fund to your country for investment and you
will be highly
rewarded for that.The amount involved is $20 Million United State Dollars.I
will wait for your reply via this email (mahalalghunaim1@gmail.com) to
enable you know your position and your percent. Remember you have to
promise me
your honesty in handling your part for me in this regard.
Looking forward to be hear from you soon.
Thank you.
Ms.Mahal Al Ghunaim
Finance Director
First Gulf Bank,
Dubai,
United Arab Emirate.
Private Email: mahalalghunaim1@gmail.com
phone: +1(202) 753-6385
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Anti-fraud resources:
