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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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- mrwilliam629@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: James William <wmr5584@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrwilliam629@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 18 Dec 2021 05:57:13 -0800
Subject: ATTENTION
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GOOD DAY MY DEAREST!
Hello this is Mr. Morgan James I just want to know if you are aware of
Mrs Michelle Dalila because she come to our office saying that you
gave her power of attorney to claim your ATM card and the funds of
$9.2 million so I want to know if you are the one that gave her go
ahead if you are not the one that sent her you know that you will get
back to us so we will know what to do
text me only (425) 4947996
this is my Email(mrwilliam629@gmail.com)
..................
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please Your Urgent Response is well Needed For the Shipping of the
Above Prize to Your Home Today with your Delivery Information Contact
Email: 1. NAME IN FULL .................. 2. ADDRESS ................
3. COUNTRY .................. 4. NEAREST AIRPOT ................
5.DIRECT PHONE NUMBER .............. Congratulation Once Again Dear
and God Bless you for ever Regards DIRECTOR ATM MICHAEL STEVE
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Anti-fraud resources:
