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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "cost of transfer" (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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "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)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "CHARLES W. SCHARF" <ubagrouponline12@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wellsfargobank13usa@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2021 14:28:36 +0100
Subject: Treat As Urgent!
FROM THE DESK OF CHARLES W. SCHARF
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF WELLS FARGO
3709 RIVERDALE, THE BRONX,NY USA 10463
Treat As Urgent!
Greetings from the Wells Fargo bank. I have a vital information which needs
to be attended to immediately. Did you authorized anyone to pick up your
inheritance fund from our branch in 490 Broadway Millbrae, Ca? One Mr
Andrew Cox came to our office in-respect of your $8.6 million USD dollars
which has been credited with us for the past one year now 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 for the past one year now and we have
been waiting for you to contact us but we didn't know what is hindering you
from reaching out to us since .So we decided to write to you to make sure
that you are fine and aware of the inheritance fund of $8.6 million dollars
in our branch office in Broadway Millbrae, Ca. We want you to get back to
us with the following details:
Full Name:
Address:
Country:
Phone number:
Id Card ;
This above listed details are needed as fast as possible if you didn't
authorize anyone to pick up your fund from our branch in Millbrae We have 3
means which you can use to receive your fund and you are to choose the
suitable option for you.
Here are the options:
(1) Bank to Bank wire transfer: It will take only 24 hours for you to
receive your fund into your preferred account. The cost of transfer charge
is $350 usd
(2) ATM Card delivery: It will take 48 hours for you to receive your ATM
card with the $8.6 million dollar inside the card. The maximum amount you
can withdraw daily is $5000. The delivery fee is $280.
(3) Consignment box delivery: Your fund will be sealed in a box without
anyone knowing what is inside it and it will be delivered to your house in
cash. It will take 2 working days to be delivered to your house This will
cost $219 usd
The above mentioned options are the medium which you can use to receive
your fund safely. Endeavor to get back to us as fast as you can with your
details and suitable option if you didn't authorize anyone to pick up your
fund in our branch. Your urgent attention are needed to enable us proceed
with the transaction as your fund is ready for delivery.
Thank you.
Mr.Charles W. Scharf
General manager Wells Fargo bank.
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