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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:
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- onlinecustomers2014@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Office" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <onlinecustomers2014@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2017 16:51:30 +0100
Subject: Very Important to hear from you today Please.
Attention: Sole Beneficiary,
I have finally succeeded in getting your package worth of $7.9Million USD (Four Million Nine hundred thousand United States Dollars) to your Country, I am Jim Hood ESQ Attorney General of Federal High Court of Justice BENIN REPUBLIC which act as your foreign Attorney representative here.
You are advice to reconfirm your full delivery information to me, Please Call/text me by SMS message +1 720-551 4568 so as to have easy conversation with me and to enable you give me the full direction to get your Package delivered to you and safe and sound, Furthermore you are advice to be very fast as i have no time to waste due to my flight ticket,
You're Required to Reconfirm to me is as Follow.
(1)Your Full Name============
(2)Your Telephone Number=========
(3)Current Home Address======
(4)City======================
(5)Nearest Airport ==============
Send your Information's to this Email Address: onlinecustomers2014@gmail.com
please get back to me immediately.
My Regards,
Attorney General Jim Hood
Contact number +1 720-551 4568
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Anti-fraud resources:
