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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "million us 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- fedexcompanyservice001@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: UN Office <rayanulawal@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fedexcompanyservice001@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2023 12:52:29 -0700
Subject: Attention!!!
--
Attention!!!
I want to inform you that your outstanding payment of $7,500,000.00
Million US Dollars in ATM Card, which has been with our Central paying
office from UN
Office in conjunction with the world bank has been signed for payment
after series of meeting with our board of directors.
Kindly confirm the below information to me and make sure your address
is writing correctly to avoid wrongful delivery of your ATM CARD to a
wrong address.
Your ATM card has been deposited with the FedEx courier service for
immediate dispatch to your home address. Kindly comfirm your required
details to the
below email address of the FedEx chairman to enable the company
register the package for shipping.
Contact details.
Name: Mr.Donald Freeman
position:Director/Chairman of FedEX Company
Personal Email:fedexcompanyservice001@gmail.com
Your required details.
1) YOUR FULL NAME:....
2) YOUR COUNTRY:.....
3) YOUR ADDRESS:......
4) YOUR PHONE NUMBER:.....
5) YOUR OCCUPATION:.......
6) YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT:.....
Thanks and Congratulations I wait your urgent response.
Mr. Antonio Manuel De Oliveira Guterres
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Anti-fraud resources:
