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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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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.
- mrlawsonpeter98@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR BEN JOHNSON <officdc@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrlawsonpeter98@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 2021 14:05:01 -0700
Subject: Dear Beneficiary
--
Your funds has been successfully moved to USA Bank for their immediate
transfer after our meeting with United Nations,FBI and Federal
Reserve Bank official,it has been agreed that your approved payment of
$12.5 Million will be Transfer to your Account, Kindly forward your
information to complete the transfer of your funds to you immediately
IF YOU ARE READY,and I WILL get your payment release to you today We
opened a PNC BANK account in your name and your funds was deposited
into the PNC BANK account.The reason why you have not been notified
about the funds before now is because we have been trying to purchase
all the required documents so that the transfer will not be stopped by
the (FBI). The Bank is delighted to inform you that we have today
completed all necessary arrangement that will enable the $12.5
Millions to reflect into your bank account successfully today from the
Bank will transfer the money.
Contact;mrlawsonpeter98@gmail.com
Phone.4355628982
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Anti-fraud resources:
