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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:
- "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. )
- "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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Frank Ashley <worldsocial594@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Ekwuekwe2022@outlook.com
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2022 12:07:43 +0100
Subject: YOUR FIRST $5,000.00 HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU
YOUR FIRST $5,000.00 HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU
Your Attention Is Needed!
My working partner has helped me to send the first $5000.00 to you through
western union. So contact Western union Agent and ask him how much charge
you needs to send before you will pick up your first $5000 now:
Contact person: Mr.Peter Williams
TEL: +2349030905980
E-mail:(Ekwuekwe2022@outlook.com)
Ask him to give you the m t c n, sender's name,to pick the $5000.00. I told
him to keep sending you $5000.00 daily till the payment of $10.5 million
dollars is completed. Again forward him your Full Name, Telephone number
and Address so that he will be sure.
THEN CONTACT HIM WITH YOUR FULL INFORMATION.
YOUR NAME:.............
YOUR COUNTRY:..........
YOUR PHONE NUMBER:.....
YOUR ADDRESS:..........
YOUR CITY:.............
YOUR AGE:..............
YOUR SEX:..............
YOUR OCCUPATION:.......
Thanks, Mr Frank Ashley
From Government Office Payment
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