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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)
- 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.
- paulwalter2409@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "United Nations" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <paulwalter2409@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2022 12:15:54 -0000
Subject: Re: Compensation
Attn; Beneficiary
I am a representative of the United Nations in Asia and Europe, USA.
After diplomatic meeting held since yesterday I wish to find
out if your funds has been credited to your account as
reported in our database that your $2.3Million Dollars which
has been approved to you by United Nations as compensation
and Reimbursement payment has been Credited into your Bank
Account with our payment Bank.
If I did not receive any response from you within the
next 48hrs, we shall assume your $2.3Million Dollars has
been successfully received by you and if you do not receive
your $2.3Million Dollars get back to me immediately I will
give you the contact Details of the Bank, so that you can
contact the Bank Executive Region Manager for the release of
your funds.
Forward your response to the below details:
Contact Name: Mr. Paul Walter
Contact email: paulwalter2409@aol.com
God Bless.
Thanks,
Donald Peckham
United Nations Representative.
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Anti-fraud resources:
