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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 us 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.
- officedhl987@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Owen James <moneygramtransferoffice2018@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officedhl987@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2021 04:52:49 -0800
Subject: Contact Mr Owen James
Hello My dear
I'm Mr Owen James from standard Chartered Bank
Your funds worth $24.5 million US dollars has been approved by the
United States international monetary fund (IMF) to be transferred to
you once we receive your response in within 72hrs of this message to
your which is 3 working days
After 72 hours and no response from you , your funds will be
transferred to the united states treasury account due to lack of
cooperation from the direct beneficiary
this funds is from the united states cyber crime security compensation
fund which is given to all the listed scammed victims in the US and
europe. if this text is a mistake and you had never being scammed or
anything Involved in cyber fraudulent activities.pls indicate
immediately so we can further cancel your transaction with an
immediate effect
Regards
Mr Owen James
Email: officedhl987@gmail.com
Standard Chartered Bank
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Anti-fraud resources:
