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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:
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: ENGR JOHN RICARDO SMITH <johnricardosmith001@gmail.com>
Reply-To: MissBeneshAbdul-Bari@firemail.de
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2022 00:37:35 -0800
Subject: PLEASE HELP ME FAST BEFORE I WILL BE KILLED
Dear,
My Name is Benesh Abdul-Bari, from Pashtun tribe Afghanistan. My
brother and father have been killed by the Taliban in the present
crisis that is still going on in my country. I am presently in hiding
to save my own life
as the American soldiers evacuated our country, leaving
thousands of us here that have worked for them as interpreters and in
project management at risk. Before being stuck here
My late father and I successfully agreed with the American military as
contractors that part of money to be paid for work done should be
deposited in escrow account overseas and currently the sum of $12
million us dollars is safely kept there .
while at home my father kept in a safe other money almost 1.5 million
us dollars cash but, the Taliban when they ran over took the money
killed my late father and brother to get the money because my father
refused to give details of the secret code of the safe strong room i
wept seeing them murdered in cold blood and i escaped after being
raped by a Taliban commander and allowed to run.
My life is in danger because i am in hiding and being looked for after
promises not to kill me.
It turned out to be a false promise my education cut off because
currently laws created by the Taliban does not allow female gender
education yet.
I need your help to move out of the country as quickly as possible
I shall give you further details on hearing from you.
Please help me fast. Waiting for your reply.
Masalam
Yours Sincerely,
Benesh Abdul-Bari,Miss
(Afghanistan)
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