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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "pamela griffin" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pamgells@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 08:25:01 -0000
Subject: Greetings My Beloved
Greetings My Beloved,
My name is Mrs.Pamela Griffin Wells. I am a cancer patient who had
decided to donate what I have to you. I am 59 years old and I was diagnosed of cancer disease for about 2 years ago. I lost my husband and was all left alone because I had no child.
I have no family and I'm going to go for an operation any moment from now, and I pray that if it pleases God,that I may survive the operation I have decided to WILL / DONATE the sum of
(Eight million five hundred thousand United States dollars) for the work of the Lord and charity purposes.
Currently, I have informed my attorney of my decision in
WILLING this fund to you. Please contact my attorney JOHN KUNTZ through this email address ( barrsjonkuntz@solution4u.com ) so that he will assist you to get this fund transferred to your bank account as urgent as possible.
If you are interested in doing this task please contact the lawyer immediately for guidance.
Thank you and God bless you.
Mrs. Pamela Griffin Wells.
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Anti-fraud resources:
