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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)
- "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. BEN OFOR" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.benofor@sify.com>
Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 14:12:15 +0200
Subject: LETTER FROM MR. BEN OFOR (YOUR CONSIGNMENT) 213.76.179.98
Attn,
This is to inform you that arrangements have been concluded as regards to the shipment of your consignment of funds to your country, I choose to conclude it and make sure it is off already before contacting you; I found out that this consignment has been lying here because of non-payment of shipment fees.
This is why I decided to use my connections as the Shipment officer in charge of the National Security warehouse. (This is where all the abandoned consignments in west AFRICA are kept at the orders of the Government of Mali
The consignment left Bamako Mali yesterday night en-route your country via Italy, It is a metal box, silver in color with a weight of about 150kg, the box is declared as containing diplomatic /inheritance documents only. The name of the Courier Company based in Italy is Air Courier International Ltd
Call me immediately so that I can give you the phone and fax numbers of the courier company in Italy so that you confirm when the consignment will arrive.
I choose to do this for you because I studied your file and discovered that you have paid a lot of money before abandoning this consignment and I believe you will compensated me well when you receive the consignment.
Note: I know the content of the Box because I could see the amount you are being owned by the Federal Government. This is why I decided to get involved, You must also know that this arrangement do not concern all the people you were dealing with before today as this consignment/Payment has been surrendered to the Government. Hence my involvement
Waiting for your call or mail
Thanks
Mr. Ben Ofor
+223-792-811-50
BAMAKO MALI
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Anti-fraud resources:
