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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:
- "a security company " (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 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)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- 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.
- jamesfisher01972@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. James Fisher" <from1@fame.utb.cz>
Reply-To: jamesfish00@barid.com
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2018 22:05:23 -0000
Subject: MY BROTHER.
Greetings
Compliment of the Season,I am Mr. James Fisher, I will be very glad if you
do assist me to relocate about € 10 million Dollars whichmy late Father
deposited in a security company before He was kidnapped and killed by
group of militants close to Mali / Burkina
Faso Border into your personal or company bank account,I have every
documents covering the deposit of the fund with me,There is no risk
involved,It will be legally done without any kind of risk.I will detail
you on what to do as soon as I hear from you.We will discuss on
percentages in my next reply
If you are ready and willing to assist me,Kindly reply me immediately
Have a great day as i wait for your return mail: jamesfisher01972@gmail.com
Thanks
Mr. James Fisher
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Anti-fraud resources:
