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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:
- "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.
- williamsmartins654@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Williams Martins <richardmaxwellagentcode1235@gmail.com>
Reply-To: williamsmartins654@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2021 14:35:17 -0800
Subject: ATTENTION BENEFICIARY
Good day , Dear Benefiary.
Greetings from the Bank Of America. I have a vital information which
needs to be attended immediately. Did you authorized anyone to pick up
your inheritance fund from our branch in Canadian CA United States?
One Mrs Judith Mark came to our office yesterday in-respect of your
$15.5 million dollars which has been credited Online with us by the
Federal Government to be transferred into your account. He said that
you authorized him to pick up the fund.
This fund has been in our custody now and we have been waiting for you
to contact us but we didn't know what is hindering you from reaching
us since. So we decided to write to you to make sure that you are fine
and aware of the inheritance fund of $15.5 million dollars in our
branch office in Canadian, CA United States.
We want you to get back to us with the following details:
1.Your Full Name :
2.You country:
3.Your Current Home Address:
4.Your Private Mobile Number:
5.Your direct telephone Number:
6.A copy of your identification card or driver license:
Best Regard
Mr Williams Martins
williamsmartins654@gmail.com
Bank of America
Tex; +1 581 704 1694
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Anti-fraud resources:
