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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 united states 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.
- 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.
- unitednationsoffice39@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: UNITED NATIONS OFFICE <mahammadhassan7249@gmail.com>
Reply-To: unitednationsoffice39@aol.com
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2023 07:02:31 +0800
Subject: COMPENSATION PAYMENT FOR 2023 FISCAL YEAR:
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UNITED NATIONS FUNDS COMPENSATION DEPARTMENT:
LONDON UNITED KINGDOM.
Dear Sir/Ma Good day,
COMPENSATION PAYMENT FOR 2023 FISCAL YEAR:
Sorry for making this contact through e-mail since we could not reach your
phone number.
My name is Miss Lynda Green United Nation Special agent .A meeting was held
on your behalf by just concluded 73rd United Nation's general assembly
within the UN/IMF countries concerning the unclaimed funds denied to many
people all over the world. Your funds will be release to you by the paying
bank for immediate payment .it was discovered during this meeting that no
funds has been paid to you all this years of pursuit. The funds is now ready
to be release to you since you have been approved to receive/claim this
compensation payment of $15 Million United States Dollars
We have instructions to release your payment to you. Kindly Forward Your
Names, Address,
Telephone Number,
Next of Kin
Occupation
for the release
of your payment. The UN is sorry for the delay of funds release..
kindly send an email to this email(unitednationsoffice39@aol.com) to get an
immediate response
MISS LYNDA GREEN,
UN SPECIAL AGENT
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Anti-fraud resources:
