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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- mrbrownzweli@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "#@4^&4#!" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrbrownzweli@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2017 07:38:19 +0900
Subject: Letter of Intent
Johannesburg Gauteng South Africa 2001
Treasury Department of Finance
Johannesburg Gauteng South Africa 2001
Mobile: +27639359097
Email: mrbrownzweli@yahoo.com
From the Desk of: Mr. Brown Z. Mana
Letter of Intent
I am in position and control of Numbered Time Deposit under NON-DISCLOSURE ACT of Sixty Million USD ($60 Million USD).
My name is Mr. Brown Z. Mana; the Processing Manager & Compliance Unit.
I will give you full details of the funds and how the transaction will proceed upon receipt of your reply along with your details indicating your interest
Indicate your interest to my personal email: mrbrownzweli@yahoo.com
Yours sincerely.
Mr. Brown Zweli
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Anti-fraud resources:
