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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:
- "million 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)
- "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "From Mr.Aziz Issa" <azizissa8000@gmail.com>
Reply-To: azizissa1008@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2022 17:06:36 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY
From Mr.Aziz Issa
Bill And Exchange Manager
Freeaing International Dept
Ouagadougou Burkina Faso
West Africa
MY DIRECT LINE : +226 72 21 62 99
BANQUE INTERNATIONALE DU BURKINA FASO (B.I.B) BANK.
Greeting to you,
I am Mr.Aziz Issa,I want you to be my partner in the transfer of the
sum of ($25.5m US Million dollars) discovered in my department in a
Bank here in West Africa and I will give you more details on this when
I get your reply but be rest assured that I will give you 50% of the
total sum once the transfer is completed but you have to maintain
secrecy of this deal if you are ready to work with me.
I will not fail to bring to your notice that this business is
hitch-free and that you should not entertain any atom of fear as all
required arrangements have been made for the transfer.
Please you should call me immediately (+226 72 21 62 99) as soon as
you receive this letter for more explanation. .
Yours faithfully,
Mr.Aziz Issa.
MY DIRECT LINE : +226 72 21 62 99 .
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Anti-fraud resources:
