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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:
- "activation 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. )
- 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.
- matthew.monger@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MRS CHIDERA NKEM <brightcaptain0@gmail.com>
Reply-To: matthew.monger@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2023 00:52:40 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION!
ATTENTION!
THERE IS A GOOD NEWS TO YOU, WITHDRAWING $8000 TO YOU BY ATM CARD
CENTER DEPARTMENT AND HERE IS THE CODE NUMBER #3142** BUT THIS MUST BE
ACTIVATE WITH THE SUM OF $50 BEFORE YOU WILL PICK IT UP TODAY, WE ARE
HERE TO SERVE YOU BEST WITHOUT DELAYING YOUR FUND AGAIN MAKE ANY
CHANCE TO BUY STEAM WALLET GIFT CARD $50 OR ITUNES CARD AND SEND TO US
TO COMPLETE YOU THE WHOLE PROCESS TO PICK UP YOUR ATM CARD AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE. THEREFORE IT IS RECOMMENDED TO CONTACT MATTHEW MONGER
IMMEDIATELY BY E-MAIL (matthew.monger@hotmail.com)
THIS WITHDRAWING OF $8000 DAILY FROM ANY ATM MACHINE YOU WILL START
THE WITHDRAWING AFTER THE ATM CARD HAS BE DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR STEP
SUCCESSFUL, THEREFORE THIS ACTIVATION FEE OF $50 HAS TO BE SEND TODAY,
PLEASE DO URGENT AND GET BACK TO US TO START THE PROCESS TO AVOID ANY
MORE DELAYING.
GET BACK TO US WITH GIFT CARD PICTURE.
THANK YOU
BEST REGARD,
MRS CHIDERA NKEM
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Anti-fraud resources:
