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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:
- "trunk box" (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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: Thomas Winkowski <laundry@katathani.com>
Reply-To: Thomas Winkowski <thomasswinkowski@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2014 20:40:40 +0700 (ICT)
Subject: Reply.....
After series of investigation on your consignment/trunk boxes which has been packed under our custody for seizure, we have found out that your consignment contained the sum of US$15.9 Million, which upon further investigation revealed that the said funds are your inheritance. We have done our due diligence and have confirmed that the funds rightfully belong to you and it is no threat to National Security.
Consequently, we have agreed that the delivery of this inheritance of yours be completed without further delay. However, before the delivery is effected, we need you to reconfirm the following information to avoid mistakes.
Full Name:
Residential Address:
Date of Birth:
Occupation:
Telephone/Mobile Numbers:
Upon the receipt of your response further details will giving to you.
Yours in service
Thomas S. Winkowski
Commissioner, US Customs and Border Protection.
Department of Homeland Security.
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Anti-fraud resources:
