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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:
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (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.
- 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: "Mrs.Edith Lopez" <christina@palladium.ca>
Reply-To: daviduzo@lankaemail.com
Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:56:16 -0700
Subject: Attn The Contractor
Attn The Contractor
This is to notify you that after we met today with The President, Finance Minister, The Senators, House of Representatives and The Central Bank Deputy Governors and we came to a conclusion that we have to pay you the sum of $10.7M. Which was your contract fund the last government failed to release to you, The payment will be via Diplomatic courier service, due to much scam in the transfer bank to bank from Africa to oversea now days therefore comply with this instruction and send your full name full address and house Tel. Number Mobil phone number
Your immediate respond is urgently needed to below information.
Hon. David Uzo
CBN settlement Officer
Tell: 234 -1- 8032654245
E-mail: daviduzo@lankaemail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
