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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:
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Kristalina Georgieva" <rw0755653@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wk574560@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 25 Nov 2021 02:18:09 -0800
Subject: PAYMENT APPROVED FROM {IMF}
From the IMF USA. We have registered your ATM CARD of
(US$2.5 Million) with our DHL Delivery Company service with registration
code of ( 8338256 ) please Contact with your delivery information:
1) FULL NAMES:....
2) DELIVERY ADDRESS:...
3) PHONE NUMBER:..
4) COUNTRY:..
5) WHATS APP NUMBER:....
We have paid for the Insurance & Delivery fee. The only fee you have
to pay is their SHIPPING/STAMP DUTY CHARGE of $50 only. Please indicate the
registration Number of ( 8338256 ) Furnish them with your Address and
Phone number
for your delivery and ask Mr.Williams Ken, to give information where to send the
SHIPPING/STAMP DUTY CHARGE of $50 only.
Kindly hurry up as your package might incur demur rages/security
keeping of $10 per day according to DHL Courier Service. The demur
rages/security keeping fee of $10 per day starts counting tomorrow.
Best Regards,
Dr.Kristalina Georgieva
International Monetary Finance {IMF}
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Anti-fraud resources:
