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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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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.
- revjimovia.firstbank@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "JIM OVIA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revjimovia.firstbank@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2020 08:43:59 -0700
Subject: From Desk Of Rev.Jim Ovia First Bank Financial Planner
From Desk Of Rev.Jim Ovia First Bank Financial Planner
Phone: +14236679216
Online Banking Department
Dear Fund Beneficiary,
This is the 3rd time i am sending you this notification letter regarding to your abandoned ATM Master Card valued sum of US$2.5 Million and i have not received any positive respond from you or making a suggestion on how you wish to receive your ATM Card. Once again; I am Rev.Jim Ovia, the new director ATM Head of Operation Bank Of Africa, I resumed to this office on the 2nd of December 2019 and during my official research I discovered an abandoned ATM Master card valued sum of $2.5 Million belonging to you as the rightfully intimate beneficiary.
I tried to know why this card has not been released to you but I was told by the Union management that the former director ATM head of operation who left this office three months ago withhold your card for his own personal use without knowing that his evil plans towards diverting your fund will be discovered.
Now that your ATM Master card is still available and ready for you to receive it Get back to us with your details to advise further
Thanks for your co-operation and i wait for your kind positive respond.
Yours Faithfully,
Rev.Jim Ovia
Tel: +14236679216
Email: revjimovia.firstbank@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
