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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:
 -  "courier service" (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:
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From: " Mr.Walker Douglas" <citymagebank@gmail.com>Reply-To: walkerdone6@gmail.com
 Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2023 12:41:41 +0300
 Subject: Funds Delivering Notice
 
 Funds Delivering Notice
 
 This is the 3rd time I am sending you an email concerning your ATM Visa Card
 a valued sum of US $ 5.5 Million and I have not received any positive response
 from you or made a suggestion on how you wish to receive your ATM Card. Once
 Again, I am Mr.Walker Douglas the new director of Bank of Uganda.
 , I took over this office on the 4th of February 2023 during my
 official research I discovered an abandoned ATM Visa card valued sum of $
 5.5 Million belonging To you as the rightfully intimate beneficiary.
 
 I have tried to know why this card has not been released before the former
 director of ATM head of operation who left this office months ago
 
 Now that your ATM Visa card still in my office we can arrange to register
 your ATM card package for shipping to your own address through any reliable
 courier service company I can not care for the courier charge, hope it is
 cleared and accepted by you I do not know the courier cost of shipping the
 card. you can make inquiries from the courier shipping company to find
 out the cost, but you will be required to forward to me your address where
 you want to receive the card to enable me to find out the shipping cost to your
 location.
 
 reconfirm Your direct telephone number and address ,so that more details of
 your ATM card payment will be made known to you as soon as I receive your
 swift positive response as soon as you read this mail.
 
 Thanks for your cooperation and I wait for your kind positive response.
 
 Yours Faithfully
 Mr.Walker Douglas
 
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