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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)
- "million 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: "Ibrahim Omar." <mathewkafou1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ibrahimomar05@outlook.fr
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2020 16:38:13 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend,
Dear Friend,
I want you to help me receive the sum of $7.5 Million Dollars belongs
to one of our late customer. late Ignacio Tuason Arroyo Jr,former
owner of Petroleum & Gas Company and a congressman in Philippines.He
died in 2012 from Heart attack and since after his death i have tried
to reach any of his relation for the claim of the money,but has been
unsuccessful.
Our bank Authorities have confirm that if nobody come for the claim of
the money ,they will return it into government account as an unclaimed
bill.
Please Reply me back and i will give you more information that you
will use to receive the money.
Mr.Ibrahim Omar Branch Manager.
You see about him at / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iggy_Arroyo
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Anti-fraud resources:
