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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:
- "waiting for 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: "MRS. KATE C. KEN" <mrskateken1212@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrskateken16@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2023 15:07:34 -0700
Subject: YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT.
Are you aware that USD$2.753 million was Approved in your name and
published in our national newspaper gazette for instant release order from
2022 to 2023. Are you much alive or What is going on?
Because we received a letter that you are Dead and asked one Mr. James
Wilson, from Canada to forward his Citibank account as your next of kin to
claim your fund. Please, urgently confirm if this is a lie with the
following information: Your Cell phone number and home address and copy of
your ID and the name of your next of kin. Your Whats-App number will be
needed to privatize this transaction and update you urgently. Please You
are advised to contact us with the above requirement for the release of
your funds.
Waiting for your Urgent Response.
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs Kate C. Ken.
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Anti-fraud resources:
