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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (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. )
- "diplomatic delivery" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: "BARCLAYS DELIVERY" <info@barclayssdelivery.us>
Reply-To: <fdennisco1960@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2013 06:20:48 -0700
Subject: SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY MADE
ATTN: BENEFICIARY,
YOUR PACKAGE JUST ARRIVE UNITED STATES. CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW AND SIGN IN YOUR EMAIL ACCONT TO VIEW AND TRACK YOUR PACKAGE DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME ADDRESS. THE CITI BANK HAVE DECIDED TO MOVE YOUR FUNDS TO YOUR HOME VIA DIPLOMATIC DELIVERY. LOG IN TO TRACK YOUR PACKAGE TO YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
http://www.8jewels.com/admin/images/Franklinimport/index.html
GO AHEAD AND SEND $145 TO THE DIPLOMAT VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER AND GET BACK TO THE DIPLOMAT WITH THE INFORMATION'S OF THE PAYMENT, THE DIPLOMAT IS NOW IN THE, CALL THE DIPLOMAT NOW: (530) 364 0309. I NEED YOU TO DO THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. BELOW ARE THE WESTERN UNION DETAILS:
RECEIVER'S NAME: GARLAND LARSON.
ADDRESS: RUPERT - IDAHO.
TEXT QUESTION: WHAT FOR.
TEXT ANSWER: DELIVERY.
KINDLY UPDATE ME ONCE YOUR PACKAGE ARRIVES YOUR HOME ADDRESS. CALL THE DIPLOMAT NOW: (530) 364 0309
RICHARD WHITE.
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Anti-fraud resources:
