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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:
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Angela Johnson" <test@vox.com.py>
Reply-To: a.j.a.j.a.j0000001@outlook.com
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2019 11:14:51 -0000
Subject: Dear,
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Dear partner,
I pray and hope this mail finds you in good condition.
Am happy to inform you that i have succeeded in getting the
USD$1,828,000.00 transferred into my account by the FirstRand bank under
the cooperation of a new partner from your country. As am writing you am
presently in Brazil to invest in Real Estate Management/properties.
Although i did not forgot your past effort and attempts to assist me even
though your efforts then was limited due to your poor financial statues you
always complained about. But you never trusted me fully!!. I guess you have
doubt believing our transaction then was some sort of a cheat game/fraud or
something!!. But i have decided within myself to compensate you just as i
promised you from the very start.
Now contact my secretary for the money. Hope you still have her email
address?. Tell her that you are the person i told her about.
I have already instructed her to send you a Certified Cheque of USD$650,000.
Best Regards,
Mrs. A.J
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Anti-fraud resources:
