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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 united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Hebrew Watt" <host@vdc.vn>
Reply-To: wathebrew01@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 04 Dec 2016 12:42:22 -0500
Subject: YOUR PENDING FUNDS TO BE RELEASED!!!
UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION UNIT,
IN AFFILIATION WITH WORLD BANK.
Permanent Mission of ENGLAND to the United Nations
351 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022
Our Ref: UN/TH/066147/2016
Dear Beneficiary, Your compensation funds of $5.9Million United State Dollars that has been issued to be released to
you as a compensation from the United Nations Office to you as a scam Victim that has falling to the hands of Scammer before now.
You have been advised to get back to us with the informations below for the onward processing of your funds release.
Full name:
Complete Address:
Occupation:
Cell Number:
Home Number:
Age: Sex:
Copy of ID :
Best Regard
Hebrew Watt
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Anti-fraud resources:
