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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
- 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.
- mrs.chantalbill@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Chantal bill <nomiyeoluwafemi@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrs.chantalbill@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 3 May 2022 04:45:08 -0700
Subject: GREETINGS
Dear Friend......
We bring greetings to you in the name of the lord. This message is sent to
you as a notification that you have been chosen to benefit from our charity
project aimed at touching lives and helping those that we can across the
world as God has blessed us. I won the Power ball lottery of $150 Million
dollars on November 2, 2019 and I have voluntarily decided to donate the
sum of $75 Million dollars to charity, I try to reach people randomly from
different sources and modes so as to touch lives from different angles,
Hence you are getting a message here.
You have been listed as one of the lucky recipients to receive $ 4.9
Million dollars This donation is made out to you so to enable you
strengthen your personal issues and mostly to generously help us extend
hands of giving to the less privileged, orphans and charity organizations
within your locality To verifyhttps://
www.powerball.com/winner-story/150-million-power ball-ticket-claimed
Get back to me on how to receive the donation through our official email
address below You can also contact us via email address[
mrs.chantalbill@gmail.com] The earlier you contact our email the earlier
you receive your donation
Thanks
Bill.Chantal Lawrence
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Anti-fraud resources:
