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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "huge amount 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)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- thomasonwilcox00@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Thomason Wilcox <thomasonwilcox00@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2021 13:16:09 -0700
Subject: Personal letter
Good Day,
You may be surprised to receive this massage from me, since you do not
know me in person. With due respect, I send this message to you which
I believe will benefit both parties in the future..I work as the
accountant and auditor manager in a Bank here in South Africa; I have
a very confidential Business Proposition for you. There is a huge
amount of money floating in the bank unclaimed. Belonging to the bank
foreign customer whom dies with his entire family of this Covid-19
pandemic.I seek your good collaboration to move the fund to you as
immediate relative for our benefit also to assist the needy during
these trying times. Kindly get back to me once you have read this mail
and if you are interested so will furnish you with more relevant
details. Please send your reply to my private email
address:thomasonwilcox00@gmail.com
Yours Sincerely.
Mr Thomason Wilcox.
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Anti-fraud resources:
