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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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Leslie Nicolas Beaton" <wilsonanone333@gmail.com>
Reply-To: leslienicolasbeaton@zohomail.com
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2023 03:34:59 +0800
Subject: TODAY
This message is important and requires your urgent attention. On my desk is
your funds release file with reference numbers: FCA/BC/GHX/72/055/01.
Preposterously, the money has remained unclaimed since its approval.
I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned
undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email. You
should therefore consider this email message my last attempt to notify you
about this unclaimed fund.
It may interest you to know that Mrs. Sharon Morgan has submitted a copy of
Power of Attorney which clearly authorises her to represent you and receive
the totality of the funds on your behalf. We understand, she is your next
of kin. Do you know Mrs. Sharon Morgan?
In the Power of Attorney which she submitted, she alleged that you were
dead. She stated, you died of coronavirus complications (COVID-19). we
understand that personally willed your estate to her
Please if you are still alive confirm the above within 48 hours for
necessary actions. We may have to release the funds to her.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Leslie Nicolas Beaton
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Anti-fraud resources:
