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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:
- "processing 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. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- mrericjohnson001@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "IMF ( KENNEDY UZOKA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrericjohnson001@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2023 00:28:26 -0700
Subject: BE OFFICIALLY INFORMED IMF FUND ( DIRECTOR)
Christopher Wray
Be officially informed that , I Christopher Wray
The Federal Bureau of Investigation director (FBI) is a national law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as delayed transactions.
Be informed that the sum of 4,500,000:00 USD pending on your data and it will be confiscated in the next few days if the beneficiary fails to claim it.
I'm writing to inform you that 4.500.000:00 USD allegedly belongs to you, you emerged as the beneficiary during the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
The fund is legal and genuine. I wish to inform you that you inherited the fund from the International Monetary fund. This was awarded to you during their last program. Approval has been confirmed on your fund by the host community which is IMF. We got it from the same hosting community which is IMF.
Send your details as below
Name=====
Phone======
Address======
Country=====
Identity======
Your fund is real and has nothing to do with fraudulent activity as the directive is from head office. We don't tolerate unprofessionally and criminality ,Therefore I give you 100% guarantee that there won't be fee after the balance of $150usd for official processing of your file.
Go ahead provide the $150 for the processing fee. Ask him how you can send this fee to him urgently
Do contact our African nominated agent Mr Eric Johnson via email, (mrericjohnson001@gmail.com)
Office address= NO 43 BELLOW STREET IKOYI LAGOS NIGERIA.
It is just one-time process then your fund will be in possession as agreed %100 assured..
Thanks
Christopher Wray
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Anti-fraud resources:
