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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:
- "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)
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "wilsoncherifoffice@ecobankbenin.co.cc" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- carlkennethservice@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "BARR. FRED GOODLUCK." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <carlkennethservice@hotmail.fr>
Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 10:25:07 -0700
Subject: Your consignment is ur airport
ATTENTION, BENEFICIARY:
WHAT IS GOING? URGENT CALL CAME IN THAT POST OFFICE DIPLOMATIC AGENT THAT TRANSFERING A CONSIGNMENT VALUED YOUR USD$ 3.850.000.00 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS MISPLACED YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT DIRECTION AFTER THE CONSIGNMENT GOT RELEASED BY USA CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT NEW YORK.
YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WAS ATTACHED ON THE CONSIGNMENT SO KINDLY CONTACT THE DIPLOMAT AGENT TO AVOID FRAUDULENT ISSUES CONCERNING THIS SERVICE AS THE DIPLOMAT MR.CARL KENNETH IS WAITING FOR YOUR DIRECTION.
CONTACT PERSON== MR. CARL KEENETH POST OFFICE AGENT.
EMAIL, carlkennethservice@hotmail.fr
YOU ARE TO RE-CONFIRM AND PROVIDE TO YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS BELOW.
1. YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT..........
2 .YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS.....
3. YOUR DIRECT PHONE........
4. YOUR FULL NAME………….
PLEASE SEND THE ABOVE INFORMATION TO THE DIPLOMAT AGENT SO THAT THEY WILL DELIVER THE CONSIGNMENT TO YOU TODAY.
BUT IF IN ANY MEANS YOU DON’T WANT THE DIPLOMAT TO AFFECT THE DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME THEN, YOU ARE TO CONTACT DR.WILSON CHERIF IN ECOBANK HIS E-MAIL ADDRESS, wilsoncherifoffice@ecobankbenin.co.cc SO THAT HE WILL HELP YOU TO MAKE ARRAGEMENT TO DEPOSIT YOUR USD$ 3.850.000.00 MILLION DIRECTLY TO YOUR BRANCH BANK IN NEW YORK SO THAT YOU CAN WITHDRAW THAN TO KEEP ON RISKING DELAYING THE DIPLOMAT IN NEW YORK USA.
NOTE: THE DIPLOMAT AGENT DOES NOT KNOW THAT THE CONTENT OF THE CONSIGNMENT BOX IS USD$ 3.850.000.00 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS AND NO CIRCUMSTANCES YOU SHOULD LET HIM KNOW THE CONTENT. THE CONISGNMET MOVED FROM HERE AS FAMILY TREASURES, SO NEVER ALLOW HIM TO OPEN THE BOX.
LET ME HEAR GOOD NEWS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THANKS
BEST REGARD'S,
BARR. FRED GOODLUCK.
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