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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:
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- ralstonw698@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Ralston Wheatley <wendyarandas@sheldonisd.com>
Reply-To: <ralstonw698@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2022 23:27:10 +0100
Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL - USE CAUTION] URGENT NOTIFICATION!!! oy
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. DO NOT click links, provide credentials or open attachments unless you validate the sender and know the content is safe.
Greetings
This notification memo has been sent to you three times without a response from you and this will be the last time and I do hope you receive it. This inquiry is about an account holder, who died and has no successor over his fund with the bank.
The essence of this communication with you is to request your willingness to accept this inheritance left behind by my client if you are legally and legitimately appointed. You must appreciate that I am constrained from providing you with more detailed information at this point.
Upon your response, I will give you full detailed information on the deceased client and the process of nominating you to inherit his wealth. Send your comments with your full names and your telephone number to enable us to discuss. I wait your reply here(ralstonw698@gmail.com)
Yours faithfully,
Ralston Wheatley
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Anti-fraud resources:
