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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:
- 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. )
- "the 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)
- "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)
- "lagos" (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.
- 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: Steve Henry <ugred12@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Dec 2013 17:13:12 +0000
Subject: AMBASSADOR TERRENCE MCCAULLEY CALL +1 940 604 6863
AMBASSADOR TERRENCE MCCAULLEY
US AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA
DATE: 1ST DEC, 2013
SUBJECT: U.S CONSULATE OFFICE ON YOUR PAYMENT.
BE INFORMED THAT I HAVE RESOLVED WITH THE NIGERIA PRESIDENCY TO DELIVER THE
SUM OF US$10.5M BEING THE INTEREST FUND ACCRUED FROM YOUR
CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUND.
I SHALL BE COMING TO USA FOR AN OFFICIAL MEETING ON 3RD DEC WHICH IS
TUESDAY THIS WEEK, AND I WILL BE BRINGING YOUR CONSIGNMENT CONTAINING THE
FUND WHICH HAS BEEN PACKAGED AND YOU SHOULD SEND YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER AND
THE ADDRESS WHERE YOU WANT ME TO BRING THE CONSIGNMENT PACKAGE. YOU HAVE
REALLY PAID SO MUCH AS I WAS MADE TO UNDERSTAND AND THAT IS WHY I HAVE
PERSONALLY INTERVENED.
YOU ARE A VERY LUCKY PERSON BECAUSE I SHALL BE BRINGING IT MYSELF AND
THERE'S NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
YOUR PACKAGE(USD$10.5M) MUST BE REGISTERED AS AN AMBASSADORIAL PACKAGE FOR
ME TO DEFEAT ALL ODDS AND THE COST OF REGISTRATION IS $850, THE FEE MUST BE
PAID IN THE NEXT 72 HOURS VIA WESTERN UNION SO THAT ALL NECESSARY
ARRANGEMENT WILL BE MADE BEFORE TIME WILL BE AGAINST US.
YOU SHOULD SEND THE FEE DIRECTLY TO THE AGENT CARGO REGISTRATION OFFICER
WITH THE INFO BELOW
NAME: JUBR GARBA
ADDRESS: LAGOS-NIGERIA
TEXT QUESTION: WHEN?
TEXT ANSWER: TODAY.
AMOUNT: $850
MY TRIP WILL BE BY MID WEEK AND I EXPECT YOU TO COMPLY BEFORE THEN SO THAT
THE DELIVERY CAN BE COMPLETED. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY, THEN IT WILL NOT BE MY
FAULT IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE YOUR CONSIGNMENT PACKAGE.
ATTACHED IS MY WORKING I.D CARD AND THE TWO CONSIGNMENT BOXES
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
AMBASSADOR TERRENCE MCCAULLEY
+1 940 604 686
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Anti-fraud resources:
