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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 united state 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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- gourinchas95@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MD.Kristalina Georgieva" <kknn23546@gmail.com>
Reply-To: gourinchas95@aol.com
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2022 00:22:23 -0800
Subject: ATTENTION : FUND BENEFICIARY,
--
--
International Monetary Fund HQ1.
Washington, D.C. 20505 USA.
REF:-XV/GNN820/21
ATTENTION DEAR :Fund Beneficiary
MY NAME IS MD.Kristalina Georgieva
Am from the IMF force We are here to let you know that those
officials whom are delaying your Compensation funds
not to be delivered to you since has been arrested by this IMF Force
and you are now advise to get back to
us with your full contact information because we are now in-charge of
the transaction to make sure it is monitored until
it is received by you.Now contact us with below information and you
will Receive your Compensation funds the sum of $7 Million
United State Dollars within 72 hours of your contact to us. so your
urgent respond is needed with your full contact information such as
your full name...............
your home address.............
your country/city..............
your email address.............
your next of kin ..............
your occupation...............
your Valid ID Card:
contact email:gourinchas95@aol.com
thank you and we are waiting to hear from you
Respectfully,
IMF Managing Director. MD.Kristalina Georgieva
Office of Public Affairs
International Monetary Fund HQ1.
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Anti-fraud resources:
