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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Directors" <directors@directors.com>
Reply-To: customeroffice@aol.com
Date: Mon, 18 May 2020 08:52:58 -0700
Subject: FUND TRANSFER.
I write this letter to inform you that I have been newly appointed as the chairman of board of directors in charge of all fund transfer within and outside international continent. I want to use this opportunity to let you know that after our brief COVID 19 lock down that a sum of money was discovered under your name in our reserve bank at the total accumulated sum of Twenty Seven Million Five hundred thousand United state dollars US$27,500,000.
You are hereby advised to write back to me immediately and acknowledge the receipt of this mail so we will arrange the transfer of the aforementioned sum of money to you. This fund could not be transferred to you because of some technical issues and lack of following bank duly transfer process in the past when you tried all you could to receive your fund.
I am waiting to hear from you as soon as you receive this mail and let me know if you are ready at this time to have your fund.
Thanks.
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Anti-fraud resources:
