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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:
- "please indicate your willingness" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- powell_john37@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: John Powell <cflml47@gmail.com>
Reply-To: johnpowll200@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2022 13:32:40 -0800
Subject: Attn:
--
MORGAN TRUST & SECURITIES
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
DEAR
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY THE UNITED
NATIONS (UN) AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) TO PAY YOUR
CONTRACT & INHERITED FUND BY CASH PAYMENT.
THIS SEEMS TO BE UNCONVENTIONAL MODE OF PAYMENT BUT IT WAS RECOMMENDED
BY WORLD BANK AUDITORS / IMF OBSERVERS INVITED BY THE GOVERNMENT U.S
ON THE PAYMENT DELAY BY THE BANKS OFFICIALS.
IT WAS OBSERVED THAT FAKE DRAFTS AND UNREALISTIC WIRE TRANSFERS HAS
MADE FOREIGN CONTRACTORS TO ALMOST ABANDONED THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY
DUE TO FRUSTRATION. THIS MODE OF PAYMENT WAS SEEN AS THE ONLY OPTION.
THE CASH IS REAL AND REQUIRE NO OTHER TREATMENT. YOU WILL BE ASSISTED
TO DEPOSIT THE CASH TO YOUR BANK. PLEASE INDICATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
PICK UP YOUR MONEY.
YOUR CASH WILL BE DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR DESIGNATED ADDRESS
AFTER PROOF OF RIGHTFUL CLAIM. ONLY USD10MILLION WILL BE PAID AT THIS
TIME. Email: powell_john37@aol.com
AWAITING FOR YOUR RESPONSE.
REGARDS
JOHN POWELL.
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Anti-fraud resources:
