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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:
- "stamp duty" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "MrChristohper A. Wray the USA FBI DIRECTOR" <om544236@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fbidirector@my.com
Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2023 02:34:28 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION PLEASE THIS IS VERY URGENT !!!
--
Official letter from the FBI fund monitoring scheme, your funds was
received at JFK airport and necessary fees and charges has been paid
by sender and remaining only $25 for Custom Stamp Duty fee , but
yesterday a lady named Janet Vowell came forward claiming you sent her
to claim your funds, is it true? did you order her to pay for the $25
stamp fee,? Also be informed that we came to an agreement with the US
custom authority at JFK International Airport NYC that you as the true
beneficiary will send the $25 fee else your funds will be hand over
to her while you'll be arrested for assisting her without informing
us, waiting to hear back from you, if you didn't send her to claim
your fund please let us know so that we shall get the impostor
arrested immediately.
I will wait to hear from you.
Your total funds $5.7 Millions Dollars.
YOUR NAME;;
YOUR ADDRESS;;
YOUR PHONE NUMBER;;
Sign by USA Fbi director
Email : (fbidirector@my.com)
Phone call or message. At + (912)662.6158
Best regarding Mr Christohper A. Wray the USA FBI DIRECTOR
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Anti-fraud resources:
