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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)
- "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. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "National House Of Assembly" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chris1_williams2002@post.ro>
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:05:13 -0700
Subject: Attn: Category(A) Beneficiary/Contractor/Inheritance fund
Attn: Category(A) Beneficiary/Contractor/Inheritance fund.
This is to inform you that arrangements have been concluded as regards to the shipment of your consignment of funds to the courrier company. 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 you have been dealing with wrong people.
This is why we decided to use my connections as the Shipment officer in charge of the National Security warehouse.
(This is where all the abandoned consignments in Nigeria are kept at the orders of the Government of Nigeria.)
The consignment left Lagos Nigeria yesterday night en-route country via LONDON. It is 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 is United Parcel Diplomatic Cargo Service Call me immediately so that I can give you the phone numbers and email address of the courier company in London so that you
confirm when the consignment will arrive your country.
The diplomat will contact you immediately he arrives in your country for face-to-face meeting and for clearance of your consignment.
All I need from you now is your full details.
(1) Your full names
(2) Your postal address
(3) Your private cell phone and fax number.
(4) Your international passport or Drivers lances if you have any.
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.
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 the National Assembly decided to get involved.
I will disclose the security code of the box to you as soon as I receive the requested informations from you.
Waiting for your call and your mails
Best Regards,
Chris Williams.
Phone:+234 70 988 02568
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