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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- oyibopatrick85@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Oyibo Patrick <yibpatrick37@gmail.com>
Reply-To: oyibopatrick85@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2019 02:46:30 -0800
Subject: I Need Your Respond
Dear Friend
My father ALBERT PATRICK former MINISTER OF NIGERIA FINANCE
died in A plane Crash respond i need your assistance to transfer his funds
Which he deposited in a Security Company as you may want to know my
Father Deposited the balance of US $13.5 Million dollars please assist me
Transfer this funds i will like to come over there and receive the funds now
I want he\her you will receive your percentage i will give you 40% for your
Assistance and 65% will be for me we cannot afford to miss it. Assist me,
another details will be sent to you, if you are interested this money will be
transfered to your account Let honesty and contented be our watchword
Throughout this transaction i shall contact you kindly Respond
Email; oyibopatrick85@gmail.com
Best regards.
Oyibo Patrick
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Anti-fraud resources:
