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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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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.
- usapostals82@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Postal Shipping <info@usa.org>
Reply-To: <usapostals82@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2022 23:50:42 -0700
Subject: From Postal Shipping Office
Attn Beneficiary:
Good day This is Postal Shipping Office USA, We have been notified by
the USA Authority because of a Deposits of An ATM Card Parcel valued at
$10.9Million United State Dollars here in our Center. And we are
instructed to contact you and make sure that this Parcel will be
delivered to you without any further delay.
This Parcel was signed by the USA IMF and Approved by the Office of
the High Court of Claim for immediate delivery to you. So are you
really the rightful owner of this Parcel if yes then we need you to
send us your Full names in any ID Card/Driver license or
your name in Passport for our Confirmation before we
can proceed to get this Parcel delivered to you.
Also we need you to forward us with your full Delivery Details your
full names, country, state/city and home address with your Cell
phone number now OK.your immediate reply and attention
is needed urgently if you are the real owner of this Email
Address thanks.
Thanks.
Mr Jerry Allen,
From Postal Shipping Office USA.
Email:usapostals82@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
