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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "a diplomat " ("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.
- susan.brown155@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Susan Brown <susanbrown113932@att.net>
Reply-To: susan.brown155@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 06:30:35 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear If You Believe In Me I Can Assure You I Will Deliver Your Funds $2.5m.
I am a Diplomat named Mrs.Susan
Brown. Who is now presently working with the Diplomatic United Nation
here in West Africa.I was mandated to deliver or transfer your Unpaid
Contract/Inheritance funds to you in your country of residence which was
tagged (AFRICAN CHILDRENS CLOTHS).
The funds total US$2.5 Million and
you were made the beneficiary of these funds by a benefactor whose
details will be revealed to you after handing over the funds to you in
accordance with the Agreement I signed with the benefactor when she
enlisted my assistance in delivering the funds to you.
Before I commenced delivery of the
funds please you re-confirm.
1.Your Full Name.......
2.Residential Address.......
3.Age:..........
4.Occupation:.........
5.Direct Telephone Numbers:.....
This is to ensure that I am dealing
with the right person. Send the requested information to the below email
address:(susan.brown155@gmail.com)
Finally before delivery of your
Parcel/Consignment or Trunk Box will be delivered to you in your country
of origin we must get a (Clearance Of Certificate) from the customs in
my country because this Certificate Of Clearance is very very
important it will prevent the customs/immigration at your airport from
searching or touching the Parcel/Consignment,before delivery will
commence.
Yours in service,
Mrs.Susan Brown.
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Anti-fraud resources:
