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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 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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Nomali Sgwili" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sgwilinomali@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2022 04:46:15 +0100
Subject: Urgent Attention Needed
Attention Sir/Madam,
I only got your contact details from the South Africa Exchange Information On-line Service on my Personal programmed search on the internet for a reputable company or individual to assist me
Sincerely & confidential which your information & profiles were very satisfactory, so I decided to contact you immediately. It is my great pleasure to write you this letter.
In accordance with the international financial system ANALYSIS REPORT database of Federal Reserve institutes South Africa as I was going through all international Asia transfer regulations funds on my desk and I have your names and email.
Kindly send me your direct contact phone number as I would like to share important information with you, concerning (250 Million Dollars) belong to Mr. Kim Jin Woo of South Korea who died of Corona virus.
Please, this is very confidential if you want us to achieve this great opportunity of lifetime because I do not want to jeopardize my profession because I am the head of the department to avoid red flag and also for security purposes because this opportunity is risk free and has no illegal attachment.
Once you read my email revert back to me as fast as possible because there is no time to waste and delay.
This is very URGENT.
Waiting for your urgent response.
Mrs. Nomali Sgwili
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Anti-fraud resources:
