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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)
- "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.
- 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.
- john_hill2020@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "UNITED NATION FOUNDATION" <mrs.robin_sanders10@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: john_hill2020@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2011 03:03:21 -0400
Subject: UNITED NATION FOUNDATION BENIN
Dear ,
Base on instruction we received from IMF (international monitory fund dep’t)
head office.
Instructed us that all long deposited fund stocked should be transfer the fund
into metal cash box .
Presently the funds was deposit with UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION office
according to IMF board authority that UN will handle the payment through
courier service direct to your country and they have the whole required
facilities in handling the transaction through diplomatic means on lesser
expenses .
We are here advice you to contact the UN office, write to the office in charge
of the service information
Director: Dr. Pjc. Desmond Bonita
At international settlement dept.
Phone : +229 98516533
E-mail john_hill2020@yahoo.com
Please contact the UN office and give forward them you full contact
information slated below to enable their diplomat contact you as soon he get
to Your Country.
(1)Your Full Name=============
(2)Mobile Phone Number========
(3)Current Home Address========
(4)Fax Number================
(5)Country====================
(6)City======================
(7)Nearest Airport==============
(8)A Copy Of Your I D For Identification.
Call the director Dr. Desmond Bonita via tell: +229 98516533, and let him
know that you are the owner of the consignment deposited into their bounded
stock office this even by Central Bank Apex board signed by executive
director of central bank
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Anti-fraud resources:
