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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:
- "million us 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)
- "30% for you " (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: mmichikosanra@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 08 Jul 2020 06:07:04 -0700
Subject: RE:
Dear Sir/Ma
I am Major Michiko Sanra an Indonesia Army currently serving in Syria WAR Z=
ONE for peacekeeping Missions.. due to the death of Gen Qasem Soleimani, wh=
o has been killed by a US airstrike in Iraq, they are heavy tension here in=
Syria war Zion as Iran is threatening to retaliate back. The Iranian oppos=
ition leader who masterminded the killing of Gen Qasem Soleimani has finall=
y recovered their Fund amounting to 80M$ {Eighty MillionUnited State Dollar=
s }. you can view the world news: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-eas=
t-50979463
with the agreement, we hard with them at 20% out of the total money they ga=
ve us 16M$ { Sixteen Million US Dollars } as the 20% for assisting them and=
as my benefit. and due to the situation on the ground here in Syria War Zo=
ne. I want to move the Fund out of Syria to a safe place until I finish my =
duty then I can come and meet you for percentage sharing at 30% for you and=
70% for me. This Fund is mainly for investment.
Can l Trust You?
Won't You Betray Me?
i am waiting to hearing from you today.
Regards,
Major Michiko
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Anti-fraud resources:
