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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:
- "consignment " (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)
- "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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: eric innocent <ijeomaigwe539@gmail.com>
Reply-To: robertben809@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2022 09:38:02 +0100
Subject: Attention.
YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED.
Are you alive or dead? We received several emails from one Mr. Frank
Harold who narrated to us about the auto car accident you had 2 weeks
ago. Mr. Frank made us to understand with some proof that you're in
hospital for treatment but there is no hope of your recovery. He
stated that he is your business associate and your next of kin whom
you have chosen and permitted to inherit all your properties. He is
contacting me and the Homeland Security office base
on your consignment box which I was about to deliver to you. He
requested that the whole amount should now be transfer into his own
personal account as he stated below.
Account Name Mr. Frank Harold
Citibank Banamex USA
Routing Number: 122233645
Account Number: 5944130210
We request your confirmation before we can process this transfer
to Mr. Frank's Bank Account.
This is to avoid releasing your money to wrong person because Mr.
Frank is too eager and ready to pay the fee of $150 for the signing of
the Official clearance warrant certificate demanded by the airport
Security and follow every other legal instruction to have this money
into his account. If you did not have auto accident and you did not
permit Mr. Frank to claim your money, kindly reply this message so we
can process the release of the $7.5 million dollars to you.
I'll be waiting to hear from you soon.
Thank you
Agent- Mr Robert
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