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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- officeifo216.bj@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Iselbella Zhang" <mrszhanis@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officeifo216.bj@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2023 17:31:10 +0100
Subject: Dear Beneficiary :
Dear Beneficiary :
This is Postal Courier Service Benin Republic, I am Mrs. Iselbella
Zhang, I would like to use this opportunity to inform you that the
United Nations (UNCC) compensates those who have unclaimed funds and
your information was found in the list of unclaimed funds. The post
office has been commissioned by the UNCC to deliver your compensation
ATM VISA CARD value of Five Million Five Hundred United States Dollars
($5.5 million) to your residence address.
We have investigated and found that you are the rightful owner.
However, we have concluded to send you your own Five Million Five
Hundred US Dollars ($5.5 million) Visa ATM Card to your residence
address. We may not be able to send your Visa ATM card with your email
address alone, so we need your information to avoid misdelivery.
Full name :
Parcel Owner's Address:
Occupation :
Copy Of Your Identity:
Contact the director:
Name: Dr Murphy Nobert
Email address: (officeifo216.bj@gmail.com)
Tel: +22955064897
We will start registering your package and send you the tracking
number before proceeding to secure delivery of your package as soon as
you reconfirm the information required for secure delivery.
The Post Office is one of the world's great success stories, the
start-up that has revolutionized parcel and information delivery over
the past 30 years. We have grown into a diverse family of post offices
that are bigger, stronger and better than ever.
Your affectionately
Mrs. Iselbella Zhang
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Anti-fraud resources:
