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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:
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- 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.
- michaellazarus5369@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Sunusi Muhammed Usman <sunusimuhammedusman@gmail.com>
Reply-To: michaellazarus5369@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2023 21:37:08 +0100
Subject: THIS IS A GOOD NEWS TO YOU,
DEAR BENEFICIARY,
The FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF UNITED STATE OF AMERICA SENT MANAGER OF IMF
Which Means INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND TOLD ME TO CANCEL YOUR FUND,
I'm here to know if I will get a reply from you so that I will know
what to do. Because all your unclaimed Funds worth a sum of $10.5
MILLIONS USD were brought to my desk for cancellation so I feel like
Texting you just for the last time.
The fact is that Our government told me to cancel the funds and
confiscated it into our government account but I'm having many
feelings to inform you first if you are still willing to receive it
then I will work everything out for you and get the package mailed to
your home address. If I don't get any response from you then I will
approve the cancellation letter.
Forward your full Address information below.
1. YOUR FULL NAME:
2. YOUR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:
3. YOUR DIRECT PHONE NUMBER:
4. YOUR OCCUPATION:
5. YOUR WHATSAPP NUMBER:
Thanks
Mr. MICHEAL LAZARUS
Email:michaellazarus5369@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
