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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- morganholbert990@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Morgan Holbert <morganholbert000@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2023 22:18:43 -0700
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION,
From The Desk Of Dr. Morgan Holbert
International Remittance Department,
Office. ABSA Business Banking
ABSA Bank Limited,
A member of Barclay's Group
75 king Williams street, EC4N 7AB
London. United Kingdom.
RE-OUTSTANDING PAYMENT:
Attention: Sir
This is to bring to your notice that there is an Inheritance payment
UNCLAIMED FUND amounting to Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United
State Dollars only [US$10.500,000.00] in our bank which has remained
unpaid in your name for a period of time. You are hereby required to
contact us urgently.
Re-confirm your detail as follows to email: morganholbert990@aol.com
1.YOUR FULL NAME:
2.YOUR OFFICIAL ADDRESS:
3.YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR CONFIRMATION:
4.YOUR SCAN COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION/OCCUPATION:
Thank You.
Yours Faithfully,
Dr. Morgan. Holbert
N.B REPLY FOR FURTHER DIRECTIVES AND INSTRUCTION TO PROCEED
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Anti-fraud resources:
