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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.
- 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.
- helenasmith652@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. MARTIN WILLIAM" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <martwilliams484@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2018 04:33:42 -0800
Subject: COMPENSATION PAYMENT
Attn
This is to officially notify you that the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) is compensating all the scam
victims with the sum of US$2.5 million each, And your email address was found in the scam victim's list. Note that before i can proceed with your payment you are expected to acquire the Certificate of Clean Funds from the United Nations Office, To this regard you are to contact the United Nations Office (UN) to secure the Certificate of Clean Funds (COCF) because they are the only trusted body recognized by this office to issue this document to you.
No other office has the right or privilege to issue you this document except the United Nations Office. The proper guidelines for you to receive this compensation is for you to provide the Certificate of Clean Funds (COCF).
The purpose of this Certificate is to make the compensation appear legal, You do not have any right to receive this compensation until you secure the Certificate of Clean Funds (COCF) document from the United Nations Office(UN).
You are advised to immediately contact the United Nations Office to obtain the required certificate, Note that you are expected to contact the united nations clerk with the below information.
UNITED NATIONS OFFICE
Contact Person: Mrs. Helena Smith
Email address: helenasmith652@gmail.com
You are hereby advised to Contact her through the above contact information, Inquire from her on how you can secure the Certificate of Clean Funds (COCF) document.
Get back to us as soon as you receive the document
We await your response.
Mr. Martin Williams
Payment Director
International Monetary Fund(IMF).
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Anti-fraud resources:
