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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "00,000.00" (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 of america" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- michaelrank@citromail.hu (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Liam Olivia <bensonmike117@gmail.com>
Reply-To: michaelrank@citromail.hu
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2022 13:45:58 -0700
Subject: BMW LOTT DEPARTMENT
BMW LOTT DEPARTMENT
5070 WILSHIRE BLVD
LOS ANGELES. CA 90036
NEIGHORHOOD: MID WILSHIRE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
This is to inform you that you have been selected for a prize of a
brand new 2022 Model BMW 7 Series luxury sport and a Check of
$7,5000,000.00 USD from the international balloting programs held on
the 1st section 2020 in the UNITED STATE OF AMERICA to be delivered to
your home address.
The selection process was carried out through random selection in our
computerized mail selection system (ESS) from a database of over
260,000 addresses drawn from all the continents of the world in which
you were selected.
This Program was approved by the AMERICA Board and also Licensed by
the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). To begin
the processing of your prize, you are to contact Mr. Michael Rank for
more information as regards the procedures towards the claiming of
your prize.
Mr.Michael Rank (michaelrank@citromail.hu)
Contact her by providing her with your secret pin code Number
BMW:25414456004/25. You are also advised to provide her with the under
listed information as soon as possible.
Mrs.Liam Olivia
DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS
BMW LOTT DEPARTMENT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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Anti-fraud resources:
