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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:
- "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: "Mr. Jerome Powell" <fbiusaederalbureauinvestigat@gmail.com>
Reply-To: federalreserveb22@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2022 07:58:26 +0100
Subject: NOTIFICATION OF CREDIT FROM FEDERAL RESERVE BANK NEW YORK.
NOTIFICATION OF CREDIT FROM FEDERAL RESERVE BANK NEW YORK.
We have received a payment credit instruction from U.S. Department of
the Treasury to credit your account with your full Inheritance fund of
US$5.3Million dollars in our bank.
However, what we required from you is your bank details where you want
your fund to be transferred.
Your Name................
Your Address...............................
Your Telephone and Fax Number............
Bank Name......................
Bank Address...................................
A/C Number......................
Routing Number.................................
The transfer will commence immediately we hear from you with the
account information. Once more, Federal Reserve Bank will not hesitate
to credit your account within the next 24hours in accordance with Fund
release order regulations.
Your Immediate Response is Highly needed to enable us proceeds with
the transfer.
Thanks for banking with Federal Reserve Bank while looking forward to
serving you better.
Yours Faithfully,
Thanks and God bless you.
Regards,
Yours in Service,
Mr. Jerome Powell
A/C officer B O A Georgia Branch.
Chairman Federal Reserve Bank New York
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Anti-fraud resources:
