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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- imfwashingtondc7@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Kristalina Georgieva <jeffwhitewilliam23@gmail.com>
Reply-To: imfwashingtondc7@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2022 23:24:59 +0100
Subject: Urgent Reply Needed
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CONGRATULATIONS!!
Hello Good Day,
I'm Mrs Kristalina Georgieva, The Managing Director of IMF Washington
DC branch. I was trying to send you a mail since last week but due
lack of chance at work i have not be able to.
I'm contacting you here regarding your Compensation Fund worth Ten
Million USD[$10.0000.00] which was giving to you since July 2020. so
we handed over your compensation funds to your diplomatic agent who
will deliver it to you through courier Service delivery but last week
we got a notice that till now that you have not received your funds.
that they diplomatic agent wanted to transfer your funds into his own
private bank account that is why I decided to contact you here.
we want you to comply with us so that, you will receive your fund
immediately. you will have to provide the following details:
Full name :--------------------
State :---------------
House address ----------------
A photo of ID card_________________
Contact number---------------------------
Contact me back on this email: imfwashingtondc7@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
