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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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: " IMF@" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <filerecord96@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2023 02:35:16 -0700
Subject: Re: ATM VISA Card
IMF Headquarters
1900 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20431 USA
We hereby officially notify you about the present arrangement to pay your overdue Winning Prize/inheritance fund which you could not
complete the process of its release through the Digitized Payment System. And on which you have spent a lot of money and time through
different offices/people just to make sure you receive your fund and after set and done you received nothing. We have decided to pay your
funds through (ATM VISA Card) This arrangement was initiated/constituted by the World Bank & (IMF) due to fraudulent
internet activities going on in the world.
The World Bank & (IMF) introduced this payment arrangement to enable our Contract, Winning Prize, inheritance beneficiary to receive their
fund without any interference. The ATM VISA Card was contracted and powered WORLD WIDE. The ATM VISA CARD is credited with the sum of $3.5
Million United States Dollars, which you can use to access your fund in any ATM Stand/location worldwide and also we have concluded delivery arrangement with the below courier service companies and
their delivery charges and period are stated below.
DHL=72hrs/$99.00
UPS=5days/$92.00
FedEx Express=72hrs/$115.00
Once it gets to us the package will be delivered to your destination. Kindly state in your response and choose your preferred Courier
Company for the shipment of your ATM VISA Card.
NB: Your current delivery address and Cell phone number is equally required.
Thanks for your anticipated cooperation.
Mrs. Kristalina Georgieva
IMF Director
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Anti-fraud resources:
