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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:
- "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 state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier company" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "WCO-Brink's Financial & Security Courier Company Ltd." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lammyaudi@blumail.org>
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 06:51:14 -0500
Subject: RE: URGENT REPLY
WCO-Brink's Financial & Security Courier Company Ltd.
Corporate Head-Quarter
WCO-Plaza.
Hello,
I'm Diplomat Lamido Audi; I have been trying to reach you on your telephone about an hour now just to inform you about my successful arrival in Houston International AirportTexas with your two boxes of consignment worth $7.5 Million United State Dollars which I have been instructed by President of Federal Republic to be delivered to you.
The Airport authority demanded for all the legal back up papers to prove to them that the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud money, I have presented the papers I handed to them and they are very much pleased with the papers Please try and reach me with my international roaming number +1 (803) 900-8233 as I cannot afford to spend more time here due to other deliveries I have to take care of in Other States.
I want you to know that you have 24 hours to call me on phone +1 (803) 900-8233. As you may know I do not want the security company where this Consignment is lodged to start raising an eye brow because of the length of time it has stayed.
However, before the delivery is effected, we need you to reconfirm the following information so that the funds will not be delivered to someone else.
1. Full Name.
2. Residential Address.
3. Direct Telephone Numbers.
4. Scanned Copy Of Driver's License Or Personal ID.
After verification of the information with what I have in file, I shall contact you so that we can make arrangements on the exact time I will be bringing your package to your residential address.
Send the requested information so that we can proceed.
Regards,
Diplomat Lamido Audi.
WCO-Diplomat Brink's Financial & Security Courier Company Ltd.
PHONE: +1 (803) 900-8233.
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