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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)
- "million united states 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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (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:
From: Mr JOE LEE <ofile680@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Mr JOE LEE <diplomaticagentjacklinchris@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2015 19:50:38 +0900 (JST)
Subject: PACKAGE DELIVERYy
Attn:
Your Consignment Box of $4.8Million United States Dollars we wish
to
inform you that the diplomatic agent
conveying the
consignment box
valued the sum of $4.8 Million United States Dollars is
currently stranded at
your International
airport now. We required you to reconfirm the following
information below so
that he can deliver your consignment box to you
today.
NAME: =================
ADDRESS: ===============
MOBILE
NO.:=============
NAME OF YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT:========
A COPY OF YOUR
IDENTIFICATION :===============
COUNTRY===============
COMPANY
REGISTRATION NO :EG31947
CODE NUMBER: 0173879
also make sure that you
forward your Code Number and Company Re registration's
to him because it is
very important
to enable him locate your package. Please do contact the
diplomatic agent with
the email below with the
information
required.
Contact Person : Mr.Chris M Jacklin
Tel
5162004007
He is waiting to hear from you today with the
information,
NOTE: The Diplomatic agent does not know that the content of the
consignment
box is $4.8Million United States
Dollars and on
no
circumstances should you let him know the content. The consignments was
moved
from here as African Cloths, so never
allow him to open the box on
till its delivered to you.
Best Regard,
Mr JOE LEE
DHL Courier
Company Benin Republic
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Anti-fraud resources:
