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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "info.missingmoney@collector.org" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Steven Mnuchin" <office@lcraindia.org>
Reply-To: smnuchin3@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2020 19:51:27 +0000
Subject: RE: FINANCIAL NOTIFICATION
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FROM THE DESK OF MR. STEVEN MNUCHIN
U.S Department of the Treasury
Address: #290 Broadway 3,
New York, NY 10007,
USA.
E-Mail: info.missingmoney@collector.org
Tel: +1 678 639-9573
Attn,
RE: RELEASE OF YOUR APPROVED
MISSING/LONG OVERDUE FUNDS NOTIFICATION.
Be inform therein that after due consultation on your behalf with
respect to immediate release of your Approved Missing Funds of Five
Million Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars($5.6 M). The U.S
Treasury Department has successfully secured your Approved missing Funds
to your favor and it has been gazetted for immediate release to you
which has been appropriated by U.S Treasury Department after careful
verification and reconciliation on your payment file.
You are hereby advise to respond to this notification for further advise
with the below information:
1. Your Full Name
2. Address
3. Mobile Phone Number
4. Age
I shall wait to hear from you with the above mentioned information to
enable us expedite action and have your approved fund release to you.
Once again, We are sincerely poised and committed in serving you most
efficiently.
I await your urgent response.
Thanks.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Steven Mnuchin.
Financial Controller.
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Anti-fraud resources:
