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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:
- "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: FBI AGENT <alikandinouroudine@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fbi72031@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 2021 00:16:46 -0700
Subject: GOOD DAY BENEFICIARY
I am contacting you personally to notify you of our discovery as well as
get some facts from you because recently we arrested an Australian
Citizen who works with a customs office in John Kennedy International
Airport New York with an ATM CARD bearing your name on it as the
beneficiary and the owner of the card. However, the entire parcel
containing the proof of claim of ownership which includes Paperwork and
4-digit secret PIN # also in your name has also been recovered from him.
After we arrested and interrogated him, he confessed his name as Mr.
Williams Dixon who works with the Chief Control Custom office, in John
Kennedy International Airport New York He further confessed that he was
approached by chief Control Custom about the diversion of a parcel
containing ATM VISA CARD belonging to one foreigner which he agreed and
then they collaborated to divert your ATM VISA CARD valued US$10.5
Million Dollars from been dispatched to the real destination.
To further conclude our investigation, we would like to hear from you
immediately to enable us to send out your ATM card back to you once your
information is the same with what we have here in our record. Awaiting
your immediate response re-confirming your full contact details for
verification and investigation so that the card can be sent to you.
The details we need are as follows:
1. Your full names
2. Your current contact address.
3. Your direct phone number.
Yours Faithfully,
Audrey Parker
FBI Agent
John F. Kennedy International Airport
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Anti-fraud resources:
