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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- 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.
- tonymrjohnson@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: mrs tony johnson <elihujames2019@gmail.com>
Reply-To: tonymrjohnson@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2023 19:17:31 +0100
Subject: HELLO GOOD DAY..
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I'm writing to you from Wells UBA BANK Benin Republic to confirm the
case in my office since Monday morning. A man named Mr. Anthony Wheals
came to my office on your behalf as he disclosed to me that you sent
him to come and claim your compensation funds of ($10.8 million
dollars). He made things very clear to me that you are dead and he's
the only person you disclosed this matter with and instructed him to
come and claim the money if you die. Right now I'm writing to know if
the fact it's true that you are DEAD or NOT, failure to respond back
in the next 24hrs simply means that what Mr. Anthony Wheals said it is
right that you are dead. and
the money is not from him yet as we want to find out if you are DEAD or NOT.
Please I want to know if you are ALIVE by responding to me within
24hr
tonymrjohnson@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
