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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:
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- wildickson1122@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "william" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <donardwilliam256@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 7 May 2020 01:00:36 -0700
Subject: hello
Hello Sir
Good day and how are you doing . My Name is Pastor Donald William,i am a manager in one of the financial saving company and also a head pastor in one of Pentecostal church known across the global ,I bring to you a life changing business proposal which i consider very important and confidential
I wish to inform you that my email to you is for the benefit of you , I and others and i mean every word stated in this proposal and i want you to treat this matter with all seriousness and confidential
I am contacting you in regards to my deceased congregant who was a reputable customer to the aforementioned bank i manage regionally .
while my congregant/customer was alive i operated/managed and guided him on the operation of the account which he deposited a huge sum of money but unfortunately he was diagnosed of a life threatening illness (corona-virus ) in united states which took his life afterwards , may his soul rest in peace.
Sir i wish to seek your assistance for the transfer of the 15.9 Million dollar into any of your nominated bank account abroad or we can choose to use courier delivery to bring it to your address after which i will come over for the sharing of the funds according to our agreed percentage .
This is because you bear the same Name with my deceased customer.please i repeat i will like us to keep this business confidential .once you agreed we will discuss the percentage condition of the business
If you are willing to handle this project on my behalf kindly reply urgent to enable me provide you more information about the investment funds.
Your Urgent Reply Will Be Appreciated.
to this E-mail wildickson1122@gmail.com
Thank you
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