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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:
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. James Staley" <wendyarandas@sheldonisd.com>
Reply-To: <mrjamesstaley0s@citromail.hu>
Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2022 01:37:07 -0700
Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL - USE CAUTION] Attention:
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.
YOUR PAYMENT OF $5 MILLION USD DOLLARS THROUGH ATM CARD.
This is to officially inform you that your Long Overdue Payment of $5
Million USD has been approved ready to release to you through ATM
MasterCard or through our Bank Telegraphic wired transfer or through
our Bank Opening Online Account in your name and give you full access
to your Online Creditted Account.
You are advice now to Re-confirm your personal information stated below,
1)Full Name
2)Residential Address
3)Phone/Cell Phone Number
4)Copy of your Id Card
5)Age/Occupation/Marital Status
Waiting for your Urgent response.
Thanks,
Mr. James Staley
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Anti-fraud resources:
