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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- 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.
- steenrobert020@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Robert Steen" <robertsteen39@gmail.com>
Reply-To: steenrobert020@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 05 Jul 2023 06:55:52 -0700
Subject: Attention to bixnfleisch@joewein.net
Dear Sir /Madam
Please permit me to work with you by engaging you into a Profit Oriented Investment Venture in your country and perhaps with your assistance/help, we are bound to get a very good and profitable Return On Investment (R.O.I.)
My office has the directive of Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani who happens to be a member of the ruling Al Thani Qatari Royal Family to source for a trusted and reliable Partner abroad who can assist us accommodate a huge amount of funds for utmost Investment Purposes. I would want us to execute this business under a Legal Representative arrangement by appointing you as the Lawful beneficiary to the stated out funds held up at a reputable Financial Institution.
Let me assure you here that, this transaction is 100% legitimate and the stated out funds has NO LINKS whatsoever to Money Laundering or Drug related funds, as this funds has been duly certified before I can open up this communication with your office.
I look forward to a wonderful relationship together and success for all of us concerned. Please, respond back as soon as you have received this correspondence, so that I can explain the full details of this Investment Project to you either via email (steenrobert020@gmail.com) or via your direct telephone number/WatsApp Number.
Sincerely,
ROBERT STEEN.
OPS.
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Anti-fraud resources:
