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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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)" <consultant234151@gmail.com>
Reply-To: departmentf68@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2020 11:59:29 -0800
Subject: WARNING
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
FINANCIAL MONITORY DEPARTMENT / UNIT.
NEW YORK CITY
Tel; +17169026351
I am Joseph Peterson (PhD) a highly placed official of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF), We knew that you have lost
confidence and trust with people regarding your fund Valued $10.5 Million
I have been assigned to take responsibility of your funds remittance to you
without further delay.
You are among the list of individuals and companies whose unpaid funds
have been approved for payment under the stipulated guidelines of the
United Nations Economic and Social Council, International Monetary
Fund (IMF) and other member countries of the United Nations, Please
any amount money that has been found in the international financial
data base waiting to be transferred without claims after the
submission of every payment report shall be confiscated and forfeited
to the United Nations account.
I hope this is clear. Any action contrary to this instruction is at
your own risk.
Call me immediately for your fund transfer on this telephone number +
17169026351
Thank you.
Kind Regards,
Mr. Joseph Peterson
Legislative Affair Officer
------------------------------------------------WARNING--------------------------------------------------
This communication is from the International Monetary Fund,
beneficiaries are advised to adhere strictly to directives. Any fund
beneficiary who ignores instruction will be doing so at his/her own
risk. If this message appears in your spam/junk folder, it’s prior to
your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Please bear with us
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Anti-fraud resources:
