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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:
- "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)
- "trunk boxes" (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 of america" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: United States Postal Inspection Service <itpolm@gmail.com>
Reply-To: servicesss@superposta.com
Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 20:41:51 +0100 (BST)
Subject: United States Postal Inspection Service
United States Postal Inspection Service
Good Day.
This is to let you know that we discovered two trunk boxes that bears your name and your address so we decided to find out the name of the delivery agent who suppose to deliver it to your final destination. Based on this discovery we decided to contact you to work out modalities of delivery to you. Make sure you reply without much delay as every arrangement to deliver it to you is in perfect order. If you wish you know any thing about this consignment packages then kindly get back for more directives on how to received it by America Express Home Delivery with low cost. Forward your home address together with your direct cell phone And any of your ID to avoid wrong delivery of your consignment.
God bless United State of America.
MR. HOWARD ABBOTT
United States Postal Inspection Service
NYC USA
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Anti-fraud resources:
