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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:
- "clearance 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. )
- "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. )
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "LARRY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.larrywalters@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2023 20:39:20 +0100
Subject: Positive News
Dear Beneficiary
This is to inform you that the U.S Government has instructed United Nations to remit the sum of $10.5 Million dollars into your Nominated Bank account, the reason for this is because your EmailName was among the scam victims that lost a lot of money to African and European Fraudsters, you are hereby advised to get back to our Bank without delay and stop all communication between you and anybody on internet and follow our instruction to enable our bank execute the payment of your Fund $10.5 Million Dollars.
Right now, We are working with the U.S Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and have decided to waive all your clearance fees/Charges and authorize the bank to effect the payment of your compensation of $10.5M approved by the government and the UN into your account without any delay. The only fee you will pay to confirm your fund in your account is your Processing fee .
get back to us with your banking information,
Full Names:
Country:
Direct Telephone:
urgently respond to this message so that I can advise you on how best to confirm your fund in your account within the next 24hours.
MR LARRY WALTERS
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Anti-fraud resources:
