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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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "World Bank Group" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <admin@worldbank.org.uk>
Date: Sun, 6 Jun 2021 06:32:57 +0200
Subject: Important Notification
Attention
This is to draw your attention to your MasterCard lying in suspense with D.H.L. We have been authorized to effect every outstanding payment immediately based on the new Government instruction, the only problem now is that we detected a lot of irregularities associated with your master card and we will appreciate it if you answer the following question.
(1) Did you at any time delegate anybody from your family to claim your MasterCard on your behalf?
(2) Were you involved in the corona virus?
(3) Are you aware of or related to one Mr. Thomas Mick from your country USA?
Please reconfirm and answer the above questions because Mr. Thomas Mick came to our foreign payment department and submitted an application that you authorized your MasterCard to be released to him with a report that you are now dead with corona virus.
After processing the application of Mr. Thomas Mick himself which he made known to us that he came from you, he succeeded in getting some required documents as to make sure that we effect this master card as quickly as possible without any further delay
The delay in transferring the master card is due to the request for a power of attorney authorizing him to pursue this payment on your behalf. He asked for a week so as to submit the document, but up till now we have not received any of the documents from any of you. Why? Please forward us the power of attorney by a return E-mail: so that we can ask D.H.L. to effect this package to Thomas Mick on your behalf without delay.
Awaiting your prompt response.
Best Regards
World Bank Remittance Dept
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Anti-fraud resources:
