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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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: "Dr Tedros Adhanom" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <acsonline.it@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2022 02:43:37 -0800
Subject: URGENT NOTIFICATION
Greetings ,
I wish to officially inform you that due to the effect of the global pandemic (Covid-19)
which the vast spread has affected the global world economy and as well the lost of lifes of people, therefore
the World Health Organization (W.H.O) has authorized the immediate release of $2,500,000.00USD(Two Million and Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) each to various companies and
individuals across the world to serve as palliative funds to aid boost the businesses and also to be used to help the poor around the accredited benficairies which their emails were selected
randomly by microsoft to be beneficiaries of this funds.
Once you have received your fund you are expected to offer adequate palliatives to the less privileged people around your vicinity and as well also invest in your business
to revive the economy as lots of people lost their jobs due to the effect of the pandemic.
You are advised to respond swiftly with the following informations so it can be documented and forward
to the accredited bank to effect the release of the funds within the shortest possible time
1. Full Name
2. full Residential Address and country
3. Occupation
4. Phone number
5. copy of identity card
Awaitng your urgent correspondence to enable us deliver on our promise to help boost the welfare and healthcare in our bid to sustain development.
Congratulations !!!
Yours Faithfully,
Dr Tedros Adhanom
COnsultants(WHO)
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Anti-fraud resources:
