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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.
- 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.
- 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.
- mikhail.helpinghandsfoundation@mail.ru (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: gloriaIvory <evelincooperimf@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2021 09:19:25 -0700
Subject: Dear Dear Friend ,
Dear Dear Friend ,
This is to inform you that I Mr. Mikhail Fridman a Russian business mogul
have selected you specifically as one of my beneficiaries for my Charitable
Donation of $5 Million dollars as part of my palliatives for COVID 19 and
humanitarian mission in your Country just as I have declared on 20th of May
2016 to give my fortune to charity. I believe my little donation will
enable you to extend helping hands to the less privileged, motherless homes
and to the poor people who live in the isolated areas of your community.
For further details and confirmation click the link below.
https://www.rt.com/business/343781-mikhail-fridman-will-charity/
I await your earliest response for further directives. Kindly reply to my
personal email address: mikhail.helpinghandsfoundation@mail.ru
Best Regards!
Sir. Mikhail Fridman
CEO Alfa Group.
CEO BK Nuts and Beverages Russia
CEO Alfa Bank Russia’s largest private commercial bank
CEO X5 Retail Group and supermarkets Russia
CEO A1 TV Channel and the LetterOne investment holding
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Anti-fraud resources:
