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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:
- "demurrage " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "James Sherry" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <james6sherry@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2011 16:38:31 -0800
Subject: Your Urgent Attention Is Needed For Your Unclaimed Consignment.
Attn: Beneficiary .
An abandoned shipment from iship forwarder was brought to our facility today and when scanned it revealed an undisclosed sum of money in a Metal Trunk Box weighing approximately 110kg. The consignment was abandoned because the Content was not properly declared by the consignee as money rather personal effect to avoid diversion by the iship delivery Agent.
The consignment left storage house yesterday through a registered shipping Company, Courier Dispatch Service Limited a division of Tran guard LTD. The Consignment is a metal box with weight of about 110kg (Internal dimension: W61 x H156 x D73 (cm). Effective capacity: 680 L.)Approximately,
The details of the consignment are tagged on the Metal Trunk box. Provide your email address, Phone Number and other details or disregard. You can send the required details to me through e-mail for onward delivery. All communication must be held extremely confidential.
Once we are through, it is recommended that you deploy the services of a secured shipping Company geared to provide the security it needs to your doorstep. Note that you shall pay for the demurrage waiver fee for the time the consignment has been in our possession, this will not cost much. This is why we are giving you a waiver. Act fast to claim your abandoned consignment with millions of dollars from inheritance and lotto sent to you from either Europe or Africa.
MR. JAMES M SHERRY.
INSPECTION OFFICER.
Office of Homeland Security
State of New York
633 Third Avenue
New York, NY
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Anti-fraud resources:
