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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:
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Graham Wayne" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pawamnyself@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 22 May 2022 10:33:57 -0500
Subject: Re: Please reply ASAP
Greetings
Please, I am sorry to invade your privacy as there is no other means to reach you for now.
I am looking for a relative of my deceased client, Mr. Robert, who died in an accident during a business trip to China 9 years ago. I am his personal attorney and I am looking for his next of kin. I contacted you to work with me in securing the transfer of my late client's funds with a U.K bank since you bear the same last name as my late client. Please contact me immediately for more information.
Awaiting.
Graham Wayne
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Anti-fraud resources:
