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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: paul Morrison <pmorrison788@gmail.com>
Reply-To: eofficedata637@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2022 02:47:24 -0700
Subject: PAYMENT UPDATE.
Dear Beneficiary.
It is a new good development for you this time to receive your long
overdue payment this 1st quarter of the year 2022 without you spending any
dime,
The board have scheduled that you have to travel to South Africa by next
week to sign
your fund release order then after signing is completed you will travel
with the documents to receive your fund in Europe.
This arrangement is 100% risk free and conducive because your security
is highly guaranteed and as such you will be taking care of over there
because the board will pay for your flight ticket, hotel accommodation
and feeding throughout your round trip.
Furthermore, before your departure money will be provided for you by
Western Union to pick a taxi to your airport and also on arrival in
South Africa you will be given another money for feeding and other
logistics.
You are expected to make every arrangement to travel by next
week and also you should send the name of your nearest airport and a copy of
your international passport to book for your ticket.
Finally, I promised you very strongly that you will receive your fund
without any
protocols as soon as you embark on this trip.
Waiting for your valued response.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Yours sincerely.
Dr.Mrs Stella Avah.
Director foreign affairs,
International monitoring fund.(IMF).
London,UK.
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Anti-fraud resources:
