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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- usdepartmentfunds@consultant.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: barrericosafu@gmail.com
Reply-To: frankdan001@aliyun.com
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2023 20:47:22 +0700
Subject: Re: HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF IT READ ??
From The Desk Of:
Timothy Gribben
Commissioner
Debt Management Services
Bureau of the Fiscal Service Funds
Our Ref: BFS/IRD/CBX/021/09
ATTN:
How are you doing? I am writing to inform you that the IMF has taken over, working towards the eradication of fraudsters and scam
Artists Around the World With the help of United States Government and the United Nation, The US Department of the Treasury Funds are willing
Open an account with the Pinnacle Union Bank to ensure your funds is transferred successfully to your personal account through an agent Bar. Frank Daniel in the email below.
Name: Barrister Frank Daniel's
Email: frankd000@aliyun.com
Contact Number: +1(912)268-7702
Contact Barrister Frank Daniels immediately regarding your Funds,Since your name and email appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a compensation of US $ 22 Million, we have made arrangement to register an Online Banking through Pinnacle Union Global Bank to create and
Transfer.
I am Mr. Timothy Gribben The Commissioner Debt Management Services Bureau of the Fiscal Service US Department of the Treasury Funds Awaiting.
Regards,
Timothy Gribben
Commissioner
Debt Management Services
Bureau of the Fiscal Service
Email: usdepartmentfunds@consultant.com
US Department of the Treasury
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Anti-fraud resources:
