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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:
- "clearing fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: " Dr Harrison James Smith " < info@unitednation.org >
Reply-To: dr.jamessmith14@yahoo.com
Date: 18 Aug 2016 14:12:11 -0700
Subject: bixnfleisch@joewein.net YOUR APPROVED CASH DELIVERY NOTIFICATION!
UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION
PALAIS DES NATIONS, 1211 GENEVA 10,
SWITZERLAND.
Website: http://www.un.org/en/
PAYMENT NOTIFICATION OF YOUR APPROVED LONG AWAITED 7.5 MILLION
USD CASH APPROVED CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT.
Attn Sir, bixnfleisch@joewein.net
This is to notify you that after the board meeting of yesterday
by the payment officers it was resolved that you will be paid
cash as our payment officers will move your approved fund cash
from Geneva to your countaty. Note that we will take care of the
shipment of your cash via diplomatic means while you will assist
the diplomats with the clearing fee on arrival to your country
this week or you can come over to meet our payment officers in
sweden or Germany his week. Please get back to this office and
reconfirm your delivery address and phone numbers and your id and
your nearest airport. Waiting for your urgent reply to proceed.
Yours Faithfully,
Dr Harrison James Smith
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Anti-fraud resources:
