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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:
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- henrickcarlson1003@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Henrick Carlson." <celumelu11111@gmail.com>
Reply-To: henrickcarlson1003@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2023 07:40:11 -0800
Subject: GREETINGS!
I have the directive of a very wealthy Russian Oligarch to source for
a partner to claim and invest huge funds based on some terms of
agreement. The funds are outside Russia and waiting for reassignment
to you. Well, this transaction MUST be kept a top secret, as the
Oligarch and family are still trapped in Russia. Their safety inside
Russia MUST not be risked, else Putin and his killing agents would
wipe them out. We shall follow due payment processing and
documentation. So, I am waiting for your response.
Sincerely
Henrick Carlson.
henrickcarlson1003@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
