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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: "PAUL SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <paulsmith.info2@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:40:00 -0000
Subject: CONFIRM IMMEDIATELY
Greeting to you,
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 Nigeria/ Ghana are kept at the orders of the Government of Nigeria/Ghana.)
The consignment left Accra Ghana yesterday night en-route your country via London. It is a metal box, silver in color with a weight of about 150kg, the box is declared as containing diplomatic wants /inheritance documents only.
I have the code number with me. Get back to me immediately so that I can give you the code number, phone and fax numbers of the courier company 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 of Nigeria/Ghana. 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 in Nigeria/Ghana before today as this consignment/Payment has been surrendered to the Government. Hence my involvement
waiting for your urgent respond.
Yours truly,
Paul Smith.
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Anti-fraud resources:
