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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:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- dip.mr.godwinbeckcampbell@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Godwin Becky Campbell <oficefile0005@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dip.mr.godwinbeckcampbell@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:29:51 +0530 (IST)
Subject: We are very confused at NEW YORK here on this stage of this delivery
From Diplomat Afloat Officer,
Mr. Godwin Beck Campbell
Diplomatic Agent FedEx Courier Company,
Cotonou /Bénin Republic.
Call: 518 772 1873
I have been mandated to ask what the cause of the delay is about your non-response back to this office concerning the delivery of your funds pacakge to you.This office is under pressure from Mr. Scott e. Edall the man who still claims that you are dead and that you made him your Beneficiary and next of kin so all money should be given to him .
We are very confused at NEW YORK here on this stage of this delivery because we heard from you and the next thing was silence which looks very suspicious as if you were not the one and truely dead as this gentle man claims you are.Mr. Scott e. Edall is ready to pay for the arrangement of your paper work so that funds package can be awarded to him as your next of kin. I am only carrying out the very last confirmation of this Organisation wish ok,you are advised to get back to us and when you will pay the Clearance change of $90 usd immediately if you are Alive so that we can proove to this man that he is lying or better still give him what he is entitled to as your Next of kin.
We await your urgent response if you are living.
Thanks and Do Have a Great Day Ahead !
Yours,
Diplomat Godwin Becky Campbell
Call: 518 772 1873
mail: dip.mr.godwinbeckcampbell@hotmail.com
Diplomatic Afloat Officer (DOA)
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Anti-fraud resources:
