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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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: Alhaji Kumbor <asanteemma2@gmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: kumborrob@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2013 14:38:00 -0300 (ART)
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION IS REQUESTED.
Attention: To Whom It May Concern.
This is very, very urgent and you have to call me immediately you receive this mail. My name is Robert Kumbor, of National security Ghana in charge of storage at the KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KIA). I am contacting you in respect of your consignment fund in my custody. I am the security officer in charge where the consignment was kept here. There is a situation i want you to know regarding your consignment. Your consignment as i write to you is about to be diverted to another person in Hong Kong and i am quite sure you are not aware of this. However, i was supposed to work all the legal documents out for them for the release but on going through the file presented i discovered some anomalies in the documents presented and i became very suspicious. In that document I discovered that you are the original beneficiary of the said consignment fund hence the need to inform you about this development and if you are willing to receive your fund, i will be ready to assist you as lo
ng as you are ready to follow my instruction as i will not want to endanger myself.
I can help you out as i have the connection as the releasing officer but you should assure me of absolute confidentiality because of my position and your readiness to receive your fund.
Listen, don't believe what you have been told that they will deliver your consignment as they're all lies. Do not send any money to anyone or otherwise you will lose your hard earn money as they will use it for their own selfish purpose. Call me on my private telephone number
Regards,
Alhaji Kumbor
Tel:+233-277-624870
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Anti-fraud resources:
