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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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "service fee" (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. )
- 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.
- danielpatrickmoynihan8@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "From United States Former Ambassador" <@ryangreer.com@care-age.com>
Reply-To: danielpatrickmoynihan8@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2023 20:47:05 -0500
Subject: Attention Please Dear Beneficiary,
From United States Former Ambassador
This is Mr Daniel Patrick Moynihan. The Former United States Ambassador ,
I was searching for some files that I left
in This office Before I left.And found out That you Have
Not Received Your Fund, And I asked The present Ambassador Mrs Lucy
Tamlyn what Happened That You Have Not Receive Your Fund
since A Year Ago Now, And she said That You Refused To pay The Required Fee
For The Delivery of Your ATM CARD.
I’m contacting you Today Because The Director Of The ATM CARD
Center said That They will Divert
your ATM CARD to the Government Treasury just Because that you cannot
pay for the service fee of your ATM CARD which is $50 only
According To Them.
But I Told Them To Wait Until I Hear From You Today So That I will
know The Reason why You Rejected such Amount Of Your money
$12.5 Million. which will change your life Just Because of $50 I
Want Your Urgent Response As Soon As You Receive This Text messages
And Explain To Me The Reason why You Have Abandon Your ATM CARDS.
I Wait To Hear From You Urgently if You Are Still Alive And Interested
To Receive Your ATM CARD. And I will Appreciate if we can keep This
Deal Confidential. Please Get Back To Me With Your Full Information.
Your Full Name.
Your Current Phone Number.
Your Current Home address.
via my private Email Address: (danielpatrickmoynihan8@gmail.com) for
further directives: My phone number is +1(203) 443-1502
Thank you.
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Anti-fraud resources:
