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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:
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- unatmcard2019@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: <tangqh@hztywl.cn>
Reply-To: unatmcard2019@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2019 02:17:14 +0100
Subject: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF). DEPT: WORLD DEBT RECONCILIATION AGENCIES=
. ADVISE: YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT NOTIFICATION. Attn; Beneficiary, Based o=
n our investigation of your payment, we want to find out if you're still al=
ive or did you sign any deed of assignment with (MRS MARY JOHNSON) to recei=
ve your fund, reply to us with: Your Names:.................... Your Home/O=
ffice Address:...... Your Phone Number:............. Mobile Number:........=
......... Your Occupation:............... Your Age/Sex:.................. T=
his is because US$9.5 Million has been approved in your favor for payment s=
o get the above information to us fast unfailingly today or your fund will =
be released to MRS MARY JOHNSON You are to call this office 00229-63387654 =
immediately for clarifications on this matter as we shall be available 24 h=
rs to speak with you and give you the necessary guidelines on how to ensure=
that your payment is wired to you immediately, Just also be informed that =
any further delay from your side could be dangerous, as we would not be hel=
d responsible of wrong payment. Yours Sincerely, MRS MARY JOHNSON Internati=
onal Monetary Funds Agent email: unatmcard2019@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
