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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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.
- mrdavidcole102@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Christine Madeleine Lagarde" <moneygramoffice2265@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrdavidcole102@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2023 13:25:42 -0800
Subject: Transfer file allocation number DT-091/UN-02/20/EC
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Hello Beneficiary,
This is to inform you that your delayed funds with transfer file allocation
number DT-091/UN-06/22/EC were posted to this office/department to carry
out the transfer/delivery to you as the beneficiary, either to your account
or address depending on how you want to receive it. After the meeting held
by the World bank,United Nations(UN),European Union(EU)International
Monetary Fund(IMF)in London. Mr. David Cole has been appointed the officer
in charge on this transfer process
You are therefore advised to forward your full contact details for
verification and to re-open your payment file for immediate
payment/transfer of your funds within the next 48 hours. Kindly send your
details to his contact as below:
Name: Mr. David Cole
Position: Payment director, Transfer Department
Personal Email: mrdavidcole102@gmail.com
Contact him immediately so you can receive your payment without further
delays.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Christine Madeleine Lagarde
President of the European Central Bank
coordinator
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Anti-fraud resources:
