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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:
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cashier's check" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- jimbar4993@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Susan Desmond" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jimbar4993@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2019 10:23:44 -0700
Subject: You have won $2.4million USD
Facebook Inc.
1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park,
California 94025.USA
Dear Lucky Winner.
A cashier's check worth $2.4million USD has been issued in your favor as your overdue payment under the instruction from Facebook Owner Mark Zuckerberg,Your E-mail was automatically selected by Facebook Online Balloting System,this has legally won you the sum of $2.4million USD and you have been authorised to receive this winning via INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT. Please Contact our payment Auditor Barr.Bryan Adcock(jimbar4993@aol.com) with the followings for fast delivery of your Cashier check.
Full Name:
Address:
Country
Age:
Occupation:
Phone number.
Please include your payment authorization code below to avoid any hitches during the delivery to you.(FB0BS/0001/GB19)Note tha it will take up to 5 business days for this INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT to clear in your local bank.
In case you receive this message in spam it could be due to your Internet Servie Provider(ISP)so kindly move to your inbox before responding.
Susan Desmond-Hellmann
Independent Director
Facebook Inc
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Anti-fraud resources:
