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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Timothy" <test@lan.com>
Reply-To: fcbnc001@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 02 Oct 2024 02:24:57 -0700
Subject: Business Proposition
Good Day
I work as an accountant in UBS Bank ; I have a very Business Proposition for you. There is a HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY floating in the bank unclaimed.
Belonging to a customer who died with his family of this Covid-19 pandemic. I seek your good collaboration to move the fund to you as Next of Kin beneficiary for our benefit also to assist the needy during these trying times. We will share the MONEY equal which is 50 TO 50
Kindly get back to me once you have read this mail and if you're interested so that I will furnish you with more relevant details.
Reply if you're interested so that I will give you more details.
Timothy Petrone
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Anti-fraud resources:
