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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:
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
- 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.
- diplomatchrishebert@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Hebert" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <diplomatchrishebert@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 20:53:01 -0800
Subject: YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX
Dear
I AM DIPLOMATIC MR.CHRIS HEBERT I have been trying to reach you on your telephone about an hour now just to inform you about my successful arrival in Los Angele's, California, International Airport? with your two boxes of consignment worth $10.5million USA dollars which I have been instructed by TNT DIPLOMATIC COURIER COMPANY to be delivered to you.
The Airport authority demanded for all the legal back up to prove to them that the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud money,I have presented the papers and handed it over to them and they are very much pleased with the papers I presented, but the only thing that is still keeping me here is the airport delivery Clearance Tag which is not placed on the boxes, one of the Airport Authority has advise that we get the delivery tag so that I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery successful.
I try to reason with them and they stated the delivery tag will cost us just $97 Dollars only to get the two tags placed on the boxes as that tag will enable me get to your house successfully without any interference, they scanned the boxes and found out that the fund is 100 % spend able and accepted by any bank in the whole world.
As I can not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I have to take care of in Austria. Here are the papers backing the funds together with my ID CARD as I can accompany you to your bank were you will deposit the fund successfully with these papers.I have I more vital paper with me but I can only present you the hard copy when I reach your house as that it is the diplomatic rules, such as authorization to deliver.Reconfirm the following information’s below so that I can deliver your consignment box to you today.
NAME: =====
ADDRESS: ==.
home phone
NAME OF YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT: ==============
A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION: ==============
You can direct the tag fee to our Head Office in Lagos Nigeria TNT COURIER COMPANY as they will get the tags here for you and they are entitled to receive and make any payment to foreign countries authority. DIPLOMATIC MR CHRIS HEBERT Here is my
cell phone to contact me. 213-283-6692 or you can as well email with this email address (diplomatchrishebert@yahoo.com.ph)
Here is the western union or money gram information to send the $105usd below..
Receiver: Ijoema Okeke
Country: Lagos Nigeria
City: Lagos
Amount: $97 US Dollars
Text Question: what color
Answer: Green
SENDER NAME...
MTCN.....
after sending the payment to Our Head Office in Lagos Nigeria TNT COURIER COMPANY send it via Western Union or Money Gram email me the payment information such as mtcn number also senders name text question and answer to enable me reach them with the payment details so they can get the tags obtain and Fax it to me one hand so I can make my next step to your address today.
(Here Is Your Package Unlocking CODE (AWB33XZS)
Urgent Response is needed because here is very busy and hot
Email me :(diplomatchrishebert@yahoo.com.ph)
Or call me.. 213-283-6692
Regard
DIPLOMATIC MR CHRIS HEBERT
TNT DIPLOMATIC AGENT CALL HIM.. 213-283-6692
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Anti-fraud resources:
