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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:
- "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)
- 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.
- o.sservices@consultant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Clement Mensah" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <o.sservices@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2013 10:36:15 +0100
Subject: Dear package Owner.0001
Dear Package Owner,
This is to officially inform you that your consignment is now overdue for delivery to
you.Your consignment was abandoned here by a diplomat.
Please provide us with your current mailing address/Telephone Numbers to enable us further deliver your
consignment to you.The diplomat has indicated that your consignment contains cash ($6.5m),and it
was supposed to be delivered to you as cash call payment of your
inheritance/Contract/Winning claims which has been long over due.
Contact Optimal Securities Services via email (o.sservices@consultant.com) to find out
how and when your package will be delivered to you.
Thank you.
Clement Mensah.
Optimal Securities Services.
Accra-Ghana.
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Anti-fraud resources:
