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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Linda Williams <mfine276@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dalsey.hillblom.lynnn@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2023 13:58:28 -0600
Subject: Hello Good Day
--
FROM THE DESK OF MES LINDA WILLIAMS
I CONTACTED YOU IN RESPECT MY DEAR
(HQ1): International Monetary Fund, 700 19th Street, NW Washington,
D.C. 20431 USA.
Attention dear Sir/Madam
I Am Mrs LINDA WILLIAMS Diplomatic agents from I.M.F International
Monetary Funds USA.
I contacted you in respect to your delivery packaged insert
$86.5millions dollar ATM Package card which was instructed by my BOSS
Agent Mr/Sir MICHAEL JAMES to send across from United States of
America to you $86.5millions dollar ATM Package card. But to my
surprising this morning a young man called Mr. jerry came up here in
our office claiming that you are DEAD and that you instructed her to
claim your Package funds. Now reconfirm to me with your current
information if you are truly Dead Or still Alive to receive your
$86.5millions Package ATM card Okay. Thanks
YOUR CURRENT PHONE NUMBER..........................
YOUR HOME ADDRESS ..................................
YOUR AIRPORT ADDRESS ...............................
YOUR VALID ID CARD .................................
I'm looking forward to hear from your EMAIL if you are still Alive ?
Regards.
Mrs Linda Williams
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Anti-fraud resources:
