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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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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 united states 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: Federal Reserve Bank of New York USA <samirelsaleh033@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fbankofnewyork1100@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2023 12:46:59 +0700
Subject: Your Payment with Federal Reserve Bank of New York USA
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK
33 LIBERTY STREET NEW YORK, NY 10045 USA
REF:- PAYMENT CODE: ECB/066
Attention: Beneficiary,
Official Notice: this to Acknowledge the receipt of an instruction Payment
Order in your favor Valued at US$10.000.000.00, Ten Million United States
Dollars Only from United Nations and World Bank.
Be informed that this Bank has been mandated by the United Nations and
World Bank Organization to offset your due Payment Valued US$10.000.000.00
with immediate effect.
To proceed with the release/transfer of your funds as instructed by the
United Nations and World Bank.
You are required to get back to us for more information so that we can
detail you on how to proceed further with the release of your approved fund.
We are waiting to hear from you.
Thank you for choosing the Federal Reserve Board. We appreciate the
Opportunity to serve you. Do not hesitate to ask question (s) where you
consider necessary for clarification.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Thanks and God bless you,
Sincerely yours,
Mr. Jerome H. Powell
CEO / Head of Transaction & Transfer Department
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK NEW YORK
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Anti-fraud resources:
