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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 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.
- 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.
- fedexexpress8008@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Kim Jong Yang" <brianmoynihan133@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fedexexpress8008@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2020 22:24:28 -0700
Subject: GREETINGS
Hello Beneficiary
This is to acquaint you on the outcome of our 1 day meeting with U.N
International Financial Investigation Unit and the Association of
Better Business Bureau to compensate scam victims upon due
verification, we have jointly approved US$10.5m (Ten Million, Five
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) for every confirmed
victim. Your E-mail address was generated through the computer ballot
system as one of the selected victim to receive this compensation.
However, adequate arrangement has been put in place to upload the
approved payment compensation into a Platinum Card that can be
accessible at any inter-switch cash machine anywhere in the world.
Finally; for the purpose of proper verification of your claims, it is
imperative that you furnish us with the following of your details
necessary to process releasing/remittance of your payment:
Your Full Name
Country
Your Direct Telephone Number:
Contact Address
Age:
Profession:
Copy of ID
You are expected to forward the above information to the Authorized
Payment Center in USA below:
Paying Bank: Wells Fargo
Contact Person: Mr Phillip Jones
E-mail: fedexexpress8008@gmail.com
You are advised to contact Mr. Brian Moynihan with your information to
enable your fund processed and released to you within the stipulated
time frame.
Cordially,
Mr Kim Jong Yang
CEO INTERPOL
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Anti-fraud resources:
