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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "consignment " (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)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: william <mark.fedhouseofsenatengorg.dav1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: sgthelenwilliam@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2023 08:27:17 +0100
Subject: PROPOSAL
International monetary fund
Headquarters: International Monetary Fund
700 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20431
Attention:Sir
This is to Inform you once again that our organization has moved your
funds the sum of $2.5 million to your country via our secured
diplomatic Immunity means.
We wish to brought to your notice this time that our agents are
already in your country and we want to inform you of this. Before we
give you further details, you must note that as we told already in our
first email that cost of delivery will be taking care by you.
It will please you to note that the total cost for the delivery is the
sum of $950 , kindly confirm your readiness to meet with our delivery
agent with the cash in your country.. Once you meet with them your
consignment and all the related documents will be given to you.
William
Finance Disbursement Unit
Director.
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Anti-fraud resources:
