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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: REV DAVID MORRIS <eyramedesign@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dhlservice08171@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2023 03:15:25 -0700
Subject: Attention the ATM CARD Owner
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Attention: E-mail Address Owner:
RE: 2023 SCAM VICTIM'S COMPENSATION FROM THE IMF/ ECOWAS / UNITED
NATIONS CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF)/ ECO-WAS / UNITED NATIONS is
compensating all the Scam victims and your email address was found in
the scam victim's list for this fiscal year 2023. This I-ECB FINANCIER
COMPANY office has been mandated by the IMF / ECO-WAS / UNITED
NATIONS to transfer your compensation to you via Money Gram OR
western union
Money Transfer OR ATM CARD.
You have to make your choice on how you will receive you funds
immediately and respond to this email address
However, we have concluded your payment through I-ECB FINANCIER
COMPANY, the total sum of (Three million Nine hundred thousand United
State Dollars ( USD$3.900.000.00USD) is completely transferred to you.
We can not be able to send the payment with your email address alone;
therefor we need your full information to avoid mistake or wrong
delivering, such as:
Your Full Name:...........................
Your Home Address:......................
Your Country/ City: .............................
Your Direct Phone Number:.........................
Your ID copy:............................
Attached copy of your Identification.
We are waiting for your urgent response as soon as possible, because
all the arrangements have been made for you to receive all that belong
to you.
BEST REGARD
MRS KRISTALINA GEORGIEVA
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Anti-fraud resources:
