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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 state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- diplomaticagent1998@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: JOHN MARIO <"MMM."@aqua.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: JOHN MARIO <Diplomaticagent1998@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2018 09:10:14 +0900 (JST)
Subject: NOTIFICATION OF PAYMENT BY ATM CARD FROM GOLD CARD IN AFFILIATION
WITH UNITED NATION ORGANIZATION
Dear beneficiary,
Diplomaticagent1998@gmail.com
We hereby officially notifying you about the present arrangement to pay you,
your over due Winning Prize/inheritance fund
The ATM MASTER CARD is credited with the sum of$4,500.000.00 USD(four
Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars), it is already loaded in
the Master Card which you can use to access your fund in any ATM Stand/location
worldwide and remember that the maximum withdrawal daily limit is Ten Thousand
United States Dollars(US$10,000.00)we have concluded delivery arrangement with
the below courier services companies and their delivery time is stated below.
UPS=48hrs/$300
FedEx=72hrs/$250
DHL=4days/$220
Post Office4days/$170
Kindly provide me with the below details in your response to this letter ,
1. Valid Delivery Address:
2. Full Names:
3. Phone Number:
4. Occupation:
5. Age:
6. Sex:
Sincerely
JOHN MARIO
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Anti-fraud resources:
