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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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- ",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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "James Russell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officerbj@skiff.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2023 10:17:14 -0700
Subject: Re: GOOD UPDATE - 22/09/2023
Dear Sir,
We wish to find out if your fund has been credited to your account as
reported in our database that one million five hundred thousand united
states dollars (1,500,000.00) has been Credited into your Bank Account
through China Merchants Bank remittance department.
Confirm the status to us by e-mail because if we do not receive any
response from you within the next twenty four(24) hours,we shall
assume the said amount has been successfully received by you and if
you do not receive then get back to us immediately by reconfirming
your full name , Contact Address(Not Po box) Direct Telephone Number.
.
Waiting for your response for more details as we await your urgent response
Yours in Service
James Russell
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Anti-fraud resources:
