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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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: "Mrs.Theresa Lewis" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <theresalewis3052@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2017 22:16:03 -0700
Subject: LETTER OF COMPENSATION
LETTER OF COMPENSATION
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT
DONALD TRUMP
340 GRANITE ST MANCHESTER,NEW HAMPSHIRE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
LETTER OF COMPENSATION
Through our intelligence reports we have discovered that your name and
information has been listed among the people who have been scammed and
in the process you have lost some huge amount of money.We wish to
express our deepest heartfelt sympathy,therefore based on part of the
Trump Transition package ,a one million united states dollars($1M) has
been set outside to compensate you for this ugly experience.We need
you to respond very quickly to this message and we shall direct and
guide you on how to receive your own package from the Trump
compensation funds.
Once again accept our concern.
Waiting to hear from you.
Regards,
Mrs.Theresa Lewis
Director Trump Compensation foundation
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Anti-fraud resources:
