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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million us 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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- 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.
- gbamaizo@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: GILBERT AMAIZO <ciberline0001@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2023 13:07:46 +0100
Subject: TRANSACTION / REPLY TO ME
Good day!
I have emailed you earlier but no response from you. I hope you're well.
My name is Mr. Gilbert Amaizo. I am a practicing lawyer in the
Republic of Togo. I seek your cooperation in working with me to
transfer about $5 million (five million US dollars) to any account you
may have.
This will be a confidential deal between you and me. We will share the
fund after it is credited to your account and you will receive 40% of
the total fund as a reward for helping me complete the transaction and
60% of the fund will be my own share.
Once I hear from you, I'll give you the full details.
I assure you that everything related to this transaction is 100% risk
free and there is nothing to worry about.
Feel free and contact me directly through this my email: gbamaizo@gmail.com
I am waiting for your answer.
Thank you and have a nice day!
Mr. Gilbert Amaizo.
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Anti-fraud resources:
