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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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "@diplomats.com" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- diplomaticmark@diplomats.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Ian Scott" <urfa@batinakliyat.com.tr>
Reply-To: <ianscott2017@accountant.com>
Date: Fri, 15 May 2020 06:50:17 +0100
Subject: Your Outstanding Compensation Fund Payment
In reference to Your Outstanding Compensation Fund Payment Of US$9.5M (Nine Million Five Hundred thousand United State Dollars) approved by Bank Director of Reliance Bank London (UK) for payment to you as one of the previous scam victims. Am glad to inform you that your compensation fund has been arranged and approved for payment via cash delivery to your destination through our Bank official delivery agent who has arrived in California with consignment at San Francisco International Airport California where he has a transit for official and final delivery to your destination within 24 hours. Contact DIPLOMATIC HASTEN MARK via email ( diplomaticmark@diplomats.com ) or mobile phone (832) 995-2516 and reconfirm your full details to him in other to facilitate your delivery.do not let the diplomatic agent know the contents of the consignment box.
Yours respectively,
Mr. Ian Scott
Director Reliance Bank, London.
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Anti-fraud resources:
