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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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 next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Paul C. Smiths" <info001@uncc.ch>
Reply-To: paul.smithsllc01@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2023 01:16:13 +0200
Subject: Inheritance Claim
Dear Friend,I am writing to solicit you as the next of Kin to move out of this contract fund in United Kingdom into a foreign account for our mutual benefits the sum of 5.2 million dollars belonging to my dead client Dr George BrumleyDR. GEORGE BRUMLEY who died in a plane crash with his entire family living no one behind as his next of kin to claim this fund. This fundwas a contract payment owed to him, I have all legal proof documents for the contract to facilitate a smooth claim of the fund. View thiswebsite for more understanding and get back to meReply with you full detail and private telephone numbers to enable me give you details on how we are to proceed.https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/22/us/victims-of-kenya-plane-crash-include-atlanta-philanthropist.htmlhttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-27-na-family27-story.htmlMy kind regards to youYours sincerely,Mr. Paul Smith Esq(USA)Estate AttorneyEmail:paulsmiths01@hotmail.comAbba JohnsonOffice Secretary
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Anti-fraud resources:
