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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)
- 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.
- michelle_obama3@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Michelle Obama"<info@levelupgp.com>
Reply-To: michelleobamacharity@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 02 Aug 2016 14:58:40 +0100
Subject:
Welcome to the first lady Mrs. Michelle Obama Office. Good Day. I am Mrs. Michelle Obama, this is to officially inform you that your overdue payment from West Africa, Benin Republic with total sum of ($10,500,000.00) Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars is currently here in my office in white house Washington DC and the funds will be delivered to you as soon as you get back to this office and comply with the requirement as needed to deliver your total fund to you. You are required to send your personal information to my office desk for verification; your details should be as follows: Your full name, contact address and phone number Bear in mind that this is the only office in charge of delivering your fund. You will have to pay the sum of $260.00 to the Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic to enable them secure the Approval Document and send it over to you before your funds will be delivered.You are advised to comply with the instructions from this office, my office will be contacting with the federal ministry of finance Benin Republic as soon as they confirm the above payment for the paper work.
Regard.
Mrs. Michelle Obama
For more complained text this number:
(202) 792-9947 Text message only.
michelle_obama3@aol.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
