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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:
- "processing fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Office email <a.h.pfeil@magenta.de>
Reply-To: "hillard.j.germany1@gmail.com" <hillard.j.germany1@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2023 13:10:43 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Good News
Stop spending your hard-earned money on fake people with unstoppable
demand/request for money. You really have to stop dealing with those people
that are contacting you and telling you that your fund is with them, it is
not in any way with them, they are only taking advantage of you and they
will dry you up until you have nothing left. already the government of
United Nation/ US have decided to compensate all the scam victims with 10.5
million Dollars each, you are listed and approved for this payment as one
of the scammed victims and to be paid this amount to you immediately. i
think all you need to do now is to quickly get in touch with me to know
what and what is required to have your funds moved to your local/personal
Bank account without any delay, The only fee you will pay to confirm your
fund in your account is the Processing Fee nothing else. You have no other
payment to make except the Processing Fee.
Best Regards,
Mr. Ben Swanson

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Anti-fraud resources:
