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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 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)
- "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- 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.
- federalser09@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "John Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <doreamy89@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2019 07:58:51 -0500
Subject: Final Word To Your Fund's Release
Our Ref: !UNCCCORG/849IMF/2018
Your Ref: RBC-07INTA-081TT
Stop spending your hard earned money. A word is enough for the wise. I am willing and capable enough to help and quickly release your money which you have been expecting to receive years back. Spend no more money and receive your funds in any bank account of your choice. some corrupts officials who you're dealing with engage your money into international Forex trade market where they are making double profit with your money and as a result of that, they keep on demanding some irrelevant fees from you and if you pay now they will come up with another story and ask you to pay again and again and at the end of the day, no success on your payment release. Their intention is to get you frustrated so that they will have time to trade with your money. The only fee you will pay to confirm your fund in your account is your UN Transfer Fee which will cost you only but $385.00 to the UN.you have no other payment to make except the UN International Transfer fee.
Please note, I don't have anything against you but your so called partners who have been demanding irrelevant fees from you for no just cost. Already, I have to put a stop on such bad transaction with your money by withdrawing the transfer service code number of your fund which is the final word to your fund's release. Your {5.5 Million dollars } is available to be released to you if you can quickly get in touch with me shortly after with your current address and valid telephone number, then leave the rest for me I will take care of it and make sure your payment is released.
Quickly call me on my direct telephone number on how to send the $385 or via my private email: federalser09@aol.com
NOTE: any other contact or payment you make apart from the UN Transfer fee is at your own risk. So take note of that.
Regards
John Williams
United Nations Compensation Commission.
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