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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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- 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.
- publicinformationofficerfic1@googlemail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Imf <hajarahsalim1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: imfinformationdept@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2022 11:40:00 -0700
Subject:
FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER (FIC)
ATTN: DEAR FUND BENEFICIARY,
COMPENSATION FUNDS PAYMENT ORDER VIA ATM CARD
GREETINGS TO YOU DEAR EMAIL OWNER,
This is to bring to you notice that your email address was chosen at
random to receive an ATM Visa Card {compensation fund} from the IMF
worth $1.5millon dollars, to be able to get access to your
compensation fund you have to contact the IMF information department
via: publicinformationofficerfic1@googlemail.com and confirm your
email address is still valid and are in use, then they will give you
more information on the fund and how you can receive it.
THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS YOU FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS.
YOURS IN SERVICES.
MRS. AMANDA LINCOLN
PUBLIC INFORMATION
OFFICER.(FIC)
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Anti-fraud resources:
