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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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 great british pounds" (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.
- 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.
- makrsmazarbanking@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Markam Azar <kimarlinton1960@gmail.com>
Reply-To: makramazar41@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2020 05:19:13 -0700
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL
I am writing you this proposal in good faith with Business Transaction that
requires absolute confidentiality.
I want to trust you with this money (£10.8 million) for investment when I
come over to your country after my retirement.
Presently, I am in grip of this fund "Ten Million Eight Hundred Thousand
Great British Pounds " readily available here in our bank, I am seeking
your co-operation to transfer this money to your place. I realized this
money as part of unclaimed deposited funds in our Bank since 2008 by a dead
foreign customer who deals on Gold and Precious stones here in London
before his death. And I can not find any of his family information and
nobody knows about this.
Immediately I realized this fund (£10.8 m), I placed it on Sundry Escrow
Account here in our bank without any beneficiary information and no one
knows about this money except me. I am seeking your co-operation I want
this money to be transferred to your bank account over there in the
country. Then apply to our Bank head office as the beneficiary of this fund.
(makrsmazarbanking@gmail.com)
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Anti-fraud resources:
