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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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: "Rev. Fr. Fred Collins" <revfredcollins@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: rev.fredcollins2008@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 13:11:28 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Payment Notification
>From The Desk Of
Rev. Fr. Fred Collins
Central Bank of Nigeria Vault/Security warehouse of Nigeria.
Tel: +2348072712569
Attn: Consignor,
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 discretion as the Shipment
officer in charge of the Central Bank of Nigeria Vault/Security warehouse of Nigeria. (This
is where all the abandoned consignments and Master Cards from Central Bank of Nigeria are
kept at the orders of the Government of Nigeria.)
I wait to hear from you with the necessary information as stated below before your
consignment will be lefted from Lagos Nigeria to your country. The box is declared as
containing delivery/Bank Documents only. Reply me immediately for further directives so that
you confirm when the consignment will arrive to your country.
Warning!: The content of the consignment is Money but declared Bank Documents to avoid
diversion by the delivery Agent. I have the Combination Keys to open the Cash Consignment
and the original coverage document of the consignment. Once you establish contact with me,
we will discuss on how the Combination Keys to open the Cash Consignment and the original
coverage document of the consignment will be dispatched across to you because you suppose
have them in hand before the Delivery Agent will arrive to your doorstep with your
consignment. Note you will not disclose the content of the Consignment to the Delivery agent
when you open communication with him to avoid diversion till he deliver/hand you, your
consignment over to you in hand okay. You must also know that this arrangement does not
concern all the people you were dealing with.
Note that the value of money in your consignment is USD $45m.
You are advised to funish me with the information as stated below:
YOUR FULL NAME:
ADDRESS:
TEL/FAX NUMBER:
AGE:
OCCUPATION:
COPY OF YOUR DRIVER'S LICENCE OR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT.
Waiting for your reply
Name Rev. Fr. Fred Collins
Central Bank of Nigeria Vault/Security warehouse of Nigeria.
Tel: +2348072712569
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