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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 us 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: bankamerica <"www."@helen.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: bankamerica <bankamerica198@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2017 23:13:40 +0900 (JST)
Subject: hello dear
Bank of America Corporate Center
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
Hours: Open today • 8AM–4PM
www.bankofamerica.com
Hello dear good citizen of USA
A compensations funds WORTHS $40.5 million us dollars that was said to belong to you was transferred to our bank corporate headquarters at charlotte, north
Carolina 28255 yesterday morning by the managements of the INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDS (I.M.F) Benin republic branch under the authority of MR. Karim
Barhoumi of Washington DC.
I would have informed you of this since yesterday but I was too busy attending to our numerous customers.
For these funds to be transferred to your private account you will have to re-confirm us with your full information.
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THANKS as we wait to hear from you soon.
God bless America.
MR.PAUL M. DONOFRIO
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER C.F.O.
Writing from the bank of America.
Please do not delay in sending these information to us thanks once more.
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Anti-fraud resources:
