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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:
- "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)
- "internationalmonetaunitimu@yandex.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Michael Adams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <internationalmonetaunitimu@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2016 17:45:51 -0500
Subject: Goldern Opportunity.
Fund Beneficiary,
ARE YOU EXPECTING ANY KIND OF PAYMENT FROM THE OVERSEAS, AFRICA EUROPE OR HERE IN THE US?
We are a secret agency put together by the United Nation and the World bank in view of the ongoing scam activities around the world. We are a group of financial expert familiar with the international payment standard and banking regulations. Our mandate is to reach out to the World to advise and help with those who has payment abroad and has sent out money without receiving anything in return.
If you are by any means been offered transfer of fund from the listed continent above feel free to get back to us for an advise as you may be an unfortunate beneficiary. We operate right here in the United State but has the mandate to liaise with any bank, Government authority concerned to investigate your case and make sure such payment is release to you without any further delay.
Get back to us at internationalmonetaunitimu@yandex.com if you have concrete evidence of an offer of payment or inheritance.
Yours truly,
Michael Adams.
International Secret Agency.
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Anti-fraud resources:
