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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:
- 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. )
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- 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.
- jeffersonpetere@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: ssegawa godfrey <ssegod@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2022 14:08:40 +0300
Subject:
--
Hello
I am Mr. Peter Jefferson the new manager of western union service,
I want to let you know that we receive another email right now from a
Young woman called Mrs. Michelle dale she said that you died in
Coronavirus last week and before you died in the hospital you gave her
The power of attorney to inherit your fund worth the sum of $10.5
Million dollars in our bank and she agreed to pay the tax clearance
Charge for us to hand over the fund to her, and we need a confirmation
From you as soon as you receive my email before we give her the access
To your fund but if we didn't hear from you till next three working
Days, then we are going to take the action by handing her over the
Fund. Remember to confirm your full information to us for mutual
Understanding:
Your name_______________
Address: ________________
Occupation: ____________
Phone number: _____________
Scan copy of your i.d card: _____________
Best regard
Mr. Peter Jefferson
My email :( jeffersonpetere@gmail.com )
Manager of western union
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Anti-fraud resources:
