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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: DEPT. OF TREASURY <w.chalker@yandex.com>
Reply-To: Wilson.Chalker <dot.usgov@yandex.com>
Date: 13 May 2020 06:49:37 -0700
Subject: U.S. DEPT. OF TREASURY
Sir,
We wish to bring to your knowledge that in the course of our file
verification exercise as directed by the Secretary of Treasury,
we come across a payment file in your name. This file has all the
payment approval documents, especially from the United Nations
Payment Agency as well as other relevant agencies including US
agencies.
However, there is no indication that the said approved fund was
finally paid to you as the beneficiary, or did you at any point
changed ownership or receiving bank account of the approved fund?
If not, then there is no indication that you have received your
fund so we want you to respond to this mail and update this
office urgently because others with similar situation are been
processed for transfer of their funds.
Faithfully
Mr. Wilson Chalker
U.S. DEPT. OF TREASURY
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Anti-fraud resources:
