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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:
- "levy " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Joaquim Levy" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kennethw201@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2020 21:46:48 -0000
Subject: covid-19 pandemic relief fund-2020
Congratulations!
We are pleased to inform you that your E-MAIL ADDRESS has been selected to receive the sum of (Five Million United States Dollars) in the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic/IFC Global Development Program. Your file Reference Number is (IFC-9602020_PSD).
All beneficiaries were selected through the IFC global database system drawn in millions of E-mail addresses via the Internet and lucky beneficiaries do not have to purchase any ticket to participate in this IFC Global Development Program. It has been approved by the IFC Management Team and the World Bank Group Board of Directors. Forward your full details such as your; Full Name: Telephone Number: Age: Sex: Address; and Your file Reference, for processing and payment of your awarded Fund.
You have to contact Mr. Joaquim Levy, he is our payment agent and World Bank Group Int'l representative and tell him your file Reference Number below: (IFC-9602020_PSD).
Contact Person: Mr. Joaquim Levy
Email: mr.joaquimlevy @mail.bg
Phone: +1 (206) 984-0138
For more details about IFC Global Development Program and Global Development Impact, visit our website: www.ifc.org
Regards,
Mr. Philippe Le Hou?rou (Chief Executive Officer of IFC)
CC: Mrs. Anshula Kant (MD and Chief Financial Officer World Bank Group)
CC: Mr. Christopher A. Wray (FBI, Director)
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Anti-fraud resources:
