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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Felix Eugene <felix7eugene@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2024 14:30:21 +0100
Subject: Re: This is a free will donation for you.
Dear Friend,
I'm Mr.Felix Eugene from the Republic of Benin and the owner of a Cement
company in the Benin Republic, currently hospitalized as a result of cancer
in Madrid Spain.
My purpose of writing to you is because I was led in my spirit to offer you
the money that I have in my private account back home now that it is clear
that I'm approaching the last days of my life.
I'm offering you the total sum of $1.5 million US Dollars as a free will
donation and the said fund has already been transferred and is currently in
a bank in your country ready to be paid to you.
Kindly get in touch with my secretary to enable her to send to you the fund
transfer legal documents that you will be submitting to the paying bank in
your country to enable them release the said fund to you.
Contact her through this email id :
edith.patrick@secretary.net
Telephone +229 644 88188.
That will be all and remain blessed,
Shalom,
Mr.Felix Eugene.
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Anti-fraud resources:
