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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.
- uspsoffice292@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Antonio Guterres" <wwupsexpressservices@gmail.com>
Reply-To: uspsoffice292@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2023 23:29:15 -0700
Subject: Urgent Attention;
ATTENTION Dear Beneficiary;
This is Mr. Antonio Guterres the UN Secretary General, I have been trying
to reach you just to inform you that your fund worth $4.5 million dollars
from US Treasury Department in conjunction with the United Nations after
our final meeting with the white House Washington DC have been approved
in your favor by the world bank president Mr. David Malpass. An ATM CARD
has been set-up for you after the world bank president approved the
release of this stated funds from the world bank account.
The ATM CARD is withdraw-able from any ATM Machine in the world and it has
been deposited to USPS for delivery. Kindly Reconfirm the below
information and make sure your address is written correctly to avoid
wrongful delivery of your ATM CARD to a wrong destination..
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 they shall proceed for the
delivery of your ATM CARD to your home address So feel free and contact the
USPS delivery company with your full delivery information, you can email
the USPS to this email below
Director, NAME: Louis Dejoy
EMAIL:uspsoffice292@gmail.com
Best Regard
UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres
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Anti-fraud resources:
