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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:
- "bank charges " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- 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.
- margnusfrede@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MARGNUS.EMA"<punit@ownmail.com>
Reply-To: margnusfrede@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2021 03:04:37 -0700
Subject: WHO SENT HER??
Are you aware that Mrs. Valynda S. Brown is telling the bank that you signed a transfer of ownership in her favour to claim your funds, are you aware that she is making arrangements to pay the charges that have been given to her to pay by the bank?
Mrs. Valynda S. Brown is making arrangement of paying the bank charges and the bank has agreed to set up an online account in her name where she can easily transfer to her account, why didn’t you tell her to assist you rather than signing a transfer of ownership in her favour, is it because she is your friend?
Why did you have to sign a transfer of ownership without informing the united nations that you do not need the funds, do you not know that the funds are in your name. I have told the bank to stop the process until I hear from you, kindly as a matter of urgency get back to me.
I wait to hear from you as quickly as possible.
Mr. Margnus Fred Ema
U.N Director on Foreign Matters
Reply to: margnusfrede@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
