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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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 next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Paul C.Smiths" <myfolder@onmail.com>
Reply-To: paul.smithsllc01@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2022 13:00:34 +0100
Subject: Request For Your Cooperation
-- Attn: Dear FriendI write to you based on a protracted scrutiny ,I am writing to solicityou as the next of Kin to move out into your account the sum of5.2million dollars belonging to a dead client. My client before hisdeath dedicated himself to work of charity and to help the needy. Isolicit your help to enable us secure the fund to enable us benefitand also to continue the work of charity and support of the needy ofhis name to immortalize him. As we will head the organizations.DR. GEORGE BRUMLEY who died in a plane crash with his entire familyliving no one behind as his next of kin to claim this fund. This fundwas a contract payment owed to him, I have all legaldocuments for the contract to facilitate a smooth claim of the fund.View this website for more understanding and get back to me if you areinterested with your phone numbers for me to give you more details of the business.https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-27-na-family27-story.htmlMy kind regards to youYours sincerely,Mr. Paul Smith Esq(USA)Estate AttorneyeMAIL:paul.smithsllc01@gmail.comeMAIL:paulsmiths01@hotmail. comMr.Christa KokuSecretary.
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Anti-fraud resources:
