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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:
- "express courier delivery" (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 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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: ALEX MICHAEL <yakubutijjani40@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fatimajumai90@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 11 May 2022 21:11:47 +0100
Subject: HELLO
--
ATTENTION DEAR
I'm Diplomatic Agent Mr. Alex Michael I arrived here since today and
I still here in Washington DC Region Ronald international airport
with your ATM Card, I have been trying to reach you on your
Email, just to inform you about my successful arrival in Washington DC
Region Ronald international airport ,with
your ATM VISA CARD worth $10.3 Million Dollars which I have been
instructed by TNT EXPRESS COURIER
DELIVERY COMPANY to be delivered to you. So Your home Address is
urgently ineed to enable me deliver
the package to your home, I will be waiting for the details as soon as
possible.
Have Been Mandated to be deliver to your address as soon as you get
back to me with The
Following Details
Your Full Name:……………
Your Current address:…………
Direct telephone Number:……..
Country:…………………………......
Sex.............................
Closest Int. Airport:………..........
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and direct
telephone number to me again
to avoid any mistake on the delivery.
Thanks For Your Understanding....
Mr.Alex Michael
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Anti-fraud resources:
