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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:
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: John Keva <jeanmichael777@gmail.com>
Reply-To: generalsecretarydptt@protonmail.com
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2023 09:49:44 +0200
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT
Hello Friend,
Hope this mail find you in an excellent condition of health. I'm happy
to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under
the co-operation of a associate , Presently i'm in Peru for lucrative
projects with my own share of the total sum.
Meanwhile I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in
transferring those funds despite that it failed us some how. Now get intouch
my secretary his name is Yves Fiobe and his mail address is: (
generalsecretarydptt@protonmail.com ) ask him to
send you the total Nine Hundred cheque which i kept for your
compensation for all your past
efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.
I appreciated your efforts at that time very much .so feel free and get
in touch with my personal secretary and instruct him how to send the
fund to you. hope this will help you and your family .
Please email me immediately when you receive it so that we can share
the joy after all the sufferings at that time. I'm very busy here
because of the projects which me and my associate are
having at hand, finally, remember that i had forwarded instruction to
my secretary on your behalf to receive your fund feel free to get
in touch with Yves he will send the amount to you without any
delay.
NOTE: Send him the word "GRACE" as your subject which is the secret
word i gave him , with this he i will know i directed you.
Best regards,
Mr.John Keva
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Anti-fraud resources:
