| 
 
 | 
joewein.de LLC 
fighting spam and scams on the Internet 
 | 
 | 
"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 message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams. 
 
Fraud email example:
From: Richard Brown <rb2586111@gmail.com> 
Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2023 12:21:40 +0100 
Subject: I need your reply urgently. 
 
Dear Sir, 
 
My name is Mr Richard Brown. I am a Consultant to the World Bank on 
the new Global Economic Growth Regeneration and Development Initiative 
(GEGRDI) aimed at straightening and stabilizing developed countries' 
economies and stimulating positive trade and investment activities in 
developing countries. We are therefore mandated to identify, monitor 
and empower persons with great potential to drive this project. 
Furthermore we are vested with the authority to assess persons with 
outstanding payments especially in Africa with a view to facilitating 
prompt payment to them on one hand or compensate them adequately on 
the other hand. 
 
You have been identified as someone capable of driving this project to 
actualize the purpose of the programme. Consequently the sum of 
USD16.5m have been provisionally approved for you as adequate 
compensation and start up fund for this project. Kindly re-confirm 
your names, address and phone number to me if you wish to receive the 
funds. 
 
I am waiting for your positive reply. 
 
Mr Richard Brown.. 
 
 | 
Anti-fraud resources: