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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:
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: Jens Wandel <redeemminfo@gmail.com>
Reply-To: united.natiionsagenccy@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2021 07:03:45 +0000
Subject: Urgent: Attention Please
United Nations Denmark
Foreign Debt Settlement/Reconciliation
United Nations
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
I am directed to contact you in order to urgently confirm from you if
actually you know one Mrs Robert Greg who claim to be your business
associate/partner. The said Mrs Robert Greg confirmed to us that you
are Dead and she will like to change all the Information that you gave
to us as our bonafide beneficiary.This development is coming now that
the Ministry want to offset all outstanding payments to all our legal
foreign beneficiaries around the world.Note that your payment file was affected.
As you may know, the total amount in your favor is a total sum of $2.5
Million Dollars.We need to confirm from you if you are Dead or
Alive.Bear in mind that If we do not hear from you within 72 hours,it
automatically means that you are dead and the information passed to us
by Mrs Robert Greg is correct. You are to contact me through my email
address as soon as you receive this message so as to know the true
position of things with in order to avert any mistake in remitting
your out-standing payment to a wrong person/account.
Your swift response will help this ministry a lot. Do email me with
your full names and direct phone number for an easy communication,
your age and occupation world suffice. Finally send an urgent reply to
enable us educate on the next step to take.
Jens Wandel
Resident Representative Denmark
+45 92452235
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Anti-fraud resources:
