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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: Zinab Mohammed <k.kardela@set-fix.com>
Reply-To: zienatemd@gmail.com
Date: 23 Feb 2022 11:20:26 +0100
Subject: GET BACK
Dear,
I am writing to inform you the situation we are facing here in
Tripoli Libya,.. am from Libya and my husband is one of late
President Qaddafi sons driver. it was my husband who took Qaddafi
family to Niger and Algeria when they ran from Libya. but he came
back to Libya and died when their convoy was hit by NATO bomb.
but he told me something very important when he was alive. he
told me how he took some money from Qaddafi son and  kept it in a
secret place.
i have 4 children for my husband. I am seeking your help to stand
as my upfront receiver of the FUNDS, that means i will name you
as our foreign beneficiary receiver of the Fund, all i need is
your trust and sincerity and i know you will not betray us...
he said the money is in Us Dollars 18.6 million Us Dollars and
all kept in a big suitcase kept in a secret hide out. I will want
to give you information about all what am saying because seeing
is believing. i am presently here in Libya and i will provide you
the details of the company where the Fund was Deposited. why am
written you is because i want you to take ownership of the funds
which my husband kept because if people knows that it belongs to
my late husband they will size it.. I will offer you 40% out of
the total Fund after you have received it.. i await your
response...
Once again i have entrusted you this huge amount of Fund with an
offer of 40% for you and you will assist us to invest our 60% in
your country.
In the attached file you will our family picture and my personal
picture
looking forward for your response.
Madam Zienate Mohammed
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Anti-fraud resources:
