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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:
- "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)
- 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.
- interpolpoliceforceunit016@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Jeff Robert Carl " <"www."@apricot.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Jeff Robert Carl " <interpolpoliceforceunit016@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Jan 2018 00:58:24 +0900 (JST)
Subject: INTERNATIONAL POLICE FORCE UNIT
INTERNATIONAL POLICE FORCE UNIT
Attention: My Dear
We did not hear from you again concerning your $10.5 Million United State Dollars that is in our custody, I want to let you know that one Mr. Donald Robinson came to our office yesterday morning he told us that he is your brother from your country he told us that you are dead.
He said that you die in a motor accident on your way going to work on Wednesday been the 15th of November which is two weeks ago, he also said that he is your next of KIN he said before your death you told him that you have fund in our custody.
He came with the sum of $4,800 dollars to pay the entire necessary bill and to claim the $10.5 Million United State Dollars as your next of KIN.
Please if you are alive due get back to me today, but if you are dead may your soul rest in peace AMEN.
If we did not hear from you today I will have the money over to Mr. Donald Robinson your next of KIN okay.
We are waiting to here from you today okay.
Thanks you.
Hon. Chief Jeff Robert Carl the inspector general
E-mail … (interpolpoliceforceunit016@gmail.com)
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Anti-fraud resources:
