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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Anita Karang <anitakarang2017@gmail.com>
Reply-To: janickchukwuka@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2023 12:39:59 +0100
Subject: From Lesotho Post Bank
Sir,
NOTIFICATION OF CREDIT FROM LESOTHO POST BANK
We have received a payment credit instruction from Chairman
Federal Reserve Bank New York and FSA Finance Group Limited under
the instruction of the Europe/Africa Fund Regulatory Board to
credit your account with your Inheritance/ compensation funds
allocated in your name to the tune of US$ 5.5 million (Five
million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) from their
reserve accounts with us.
However, you shall be required to re-confirm the following
details as specified below to effect the transfer aforementioned
above to your designated Bank account details:
Please kindly confirm us with your below information.
Your Full Name:
Your Home Address
Your Direct Telephone and Fax number
Your Occupation.
Date of Birth.:
Your Account Bank Details
Thanks
Mrs Anita Karang
Director Foreign Operations
Lesotho Post Bank
Lesotho Africa
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Anti-fraud resources:
