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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:
- "stamp duty" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million us 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: "MrAlex Morris." <"www."@ray.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "MrAlex Morris." <mralex.morris@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2017 17:21:49 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATTENTION!!
ATTENTION!!
I I'm. MrAlex Morris. I' am writing to confirm the fact if you are DEAD or ALIVE and failure to reply back in the next 24hrs simply means what Dr. Henry Godwin said today was right that you are dead. Dr. Henry Godwin has agreed to pay the needed fund valued at required for the Bond Stamp Duty Fee of your ATM Package Worth $486.8Million US Dollars, but we have not gotten the money from him yet as we want to find out if you are dead or not, so if you are still alive you are advice in your own best interest to reply back immediately. Your instructed to email us your full details on the above stated
Fullname---------
Mobile Number:--------------
Direct telephone number------
Country of origin:--------
Your Current delivery
address:---- Occupation----------
City -------------------
Sex----------
Once we receive your mail we can stop further communication with Dr. Henry Godwin , and deliver the ATM Master card to your door step being the original beneficiary of the sum of $486.8 Millon Dollars!! Give us a call or text once you are receiving from us +1{202-849-5799} we are waiting for you call or text
thanks
Regards
MrAlex Morris.
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Anti-fraud resources:
