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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:
- "consignment " (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 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.
- partricemorris5@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Patrick James Morrissey <kirstjennielson@gmail.com>
Reply-To: partricemorris5@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2020 16:39:57 +0000
Subject: HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE YOUR FUND? TEXT ME HERE (772) 617-3592
Greetings To You
This is Patrick Morrissey an American politician and Attorney serving
as the 34th and current Attorney General of West Virginia since 2013,
I’m contacting you regarding your Consignment box worth​ $10.5 Million
United States​ Dollars brought to my desk in West Virginia to be
signed and send back to the originated country as unclaimed fund. As a
result of the information i got, i told them to wait until i hear from
you today so i will know the reason why you rejected such amount of
money which is your compensation fund just because of the
documentaries needed. I need your urgent response as soon as you
receive my mail and explain to me the reason why you have abandon your
box, but if you don't need it then I can change your name to another
person here in United State, so that this Government will not claim
this money. Get back to me right now.
Here is my E- email address: partricemorris5@gmail.com
Regards
Patrick Morrissey
(772) 617-3592
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Anti-fraud resources:
