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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:
- "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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: USA government Office <usagovernmentoffice64@gmail.com>
Reply-To: websiteofficial602@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2023 23:25:45 -0600
Subject: hello
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ATTENTION
This is Mr Henry Richardson the Director of DHL courier company, I
have been trying to reach you just to inform you that your fund worth
$20.million dollars ( twenty million.United States Dollars) have been
approved in your favor with a bank which has already opened an account
and issued to you ATM CARD, The ATM CARD is withdrawable from any ATM
Machine in the world and it has been deposited to our office for the
delivery of your ATM CARD package,
Kindly Reconfirm the below information to me and make sure your
address is writing correctly to avoid wrongful delivery of your ATM
CARD to a wrong address
1) YOUR FULL NAME:....
2) YOUR COUNTRY:.....
3) YOUR ADDRESS:......
4) YOUR PHONE NUMBER:.....
5) YOUR OCCUPATION:.......
6) YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT:.....
Upon the receipt of your mailing address we shall proceed for the
delivery of your ATM CARD to your home address So feel free and
contact me back with your full delivery information thanks
Regards,
Mr Henry Richardson
Email:
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Anti-fraud resources:
