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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: United Nations <raymondnelsonesq@gmail.com>
Reply-To: antonioguterres.uncc@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2023 09:15:43 +0200
Subject: UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION
UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION (UNCC)
DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS.
870 UNITED NATIONS PLAZA, 20-A
NEW YORK, NY 10017 USA
Tel: +1-315-280-5760
Attention: E-mail Beneficiary,
The United Nations Compensation Commission claims-processing exercise for
2022 have approved payments for distribution to 1.5 million successful
claimants. In light of the studied intelligence reports forwarded to us by
the National Treasury on all payment transaction of the UNCC Settlements
and Allied matters, further discovery from the Commissions Tax Force shows
that your due payment valuation of $5,500,000.00 (Five Million and Five
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) has been unjustly treated.
The Governing Council monitors the distribution of payments to claimants by
the relevant governments and international authorities hence a revisit to
your file requires attention for immediate treat and payment of your
compensation fund to you without further delay. Please provide the listed
data below for further assessment and verifications to have us commence
proceedings.
* Full Names:
* Residential Address:
* Occupation:
* Mobile Number:
* Age:
* Gender:
* Alternative E-mail I.D:
* Copy of Valid I.D:
Your quick response will aid speedy treat of your file.
Sincerely yours.
António Guterres
Secretary-General
United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC)
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Anti-fraud resources:
