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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Hon. Barrister M. A. Ogwe" <ccasals@vtr.net>
Reply-To: <frankphelsell@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2020 12:45:01 +0100
Subject: I need your reply. 2
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Columbia County School District. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear friend,
I am Barrister M. A. Ogwe and my purpose of contacting you is for your consent and/or help to secure and claim the funds left behind by my late client to avoid its confiscation or declaration as none serviceable by the bank. The fund is valued at $19,500,000.00 dollars. I know you may not actually be in anyway related to him (my late client) but for sharing the same surname with him makes it easy to get the funds to your name and/or have it moved to your account for your access, our division and utility. Get back to me for more details.
Regards,
Hon. Barrister M. A. Ogwe
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Anti-fraud resources:
