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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:
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: Samuel Muth <info@e-boks.dk>
Reply-To: <muthsamuel22@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2023 08:39:19 +0000
Subject: Re: Your Urgent Response Is Needed.
Dear Beneficiary,
Are you alive or dead?
We received several emails from one Mr. Garcia
Charles Gilbert who narrated to us about the auto accident you had
two weeks ago.
Mr. Garcia made us understand that you are in hospital for treatment
but there is no hope of your recovery. He stated that he is your
business associate,also your next of kin whom you have chosen and
permitted to inherit all your properties. He is contacting this office
based on your contract /Inheritance payment fund which is about to be
paid to you. He requested that the payment should now be transferred
into his own personal account.
We request your immediate confirmation before we can process this
transfer to Mr. Garcia Charles Gilbert's Bank Account. This is to
avoid releasing your money to wrong person because Mr. Garcia Charles
Gilbert is too eager and ready to follow every instruction to have
this money into his account. If you did not have an auto accident and
you did not permit Mr. Garcia Charles Gilbert to claim your money,
kindly reply to this message with your full contact information so we
can process the release of your fund to you.
Best Regards,
Samuel Muth,
Chief Executive officer,
World Bank.
This e-mail is of confidential
and is intended solely for the use of the individual/entity to whom
they are addressed and not binding any agreement on behalf of the
department.
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Anti-fraud resources:
