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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:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Frank Williams <fmfrd2004@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fmfrd2008@gmx.com
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2023 16:23:18 +0100
Subject: Attention Sir/Madam
*Attention Sir/Madam*
*You are being legally contacted regarding the release of your long awaited
fund, prior to the recent meeting held with President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria with **United Nations Monetary Unit**. I wish to find
out if the US$17.5M has been credited to your account as reported in our
database.*
*If I did not receive any response from you within the next 48hrs, we shall
assume that your US$17.5M has been successfully received by you.*
*But, if you have not received your US$17.5M, quickly get back to us
immediately with the following information.*
* 1.Your full name:…………. 2. Your home address:…………. 3.Your private
Telephone number:…………. 4.Your occupation:…………. 5.Your Age:…………. 6.Your
country:…………. 7.Your next of kin:…………. 8.Your valid ID:………….*
*Please get this done today, so that action could commence on it in
earnest.*
*I await your urgent response in order for me to explain if there is still
anything you might want to know on How to get your fund.*
*Best regards*
*Mr. **Frank **Nwaobia **Williams**
<https://myfctagov.ng/index.php/person-category/office-of-the-permanent-secretary/>*
*Permanent Secretary Ministry Of Finance **Office of Foreign Operations*
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Anti-fraud resources:
